By Jarson Malowa, Yohane Symon, Innocent Kalikokha & Patience Lunda:
Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examinations started Wednesday, with the Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) indicating that there were no major hitches.
A total of 267,330 candidates sat the examinations last year as compared to 262,216 candidates that are sitting the examinations this year.
When we visited Mponda Local Education Authority Primary School in Zomba District at 8am Wednesday, candidates were ready for examinations.
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Spot-checks at Police Primary School indicated that over 200 candidates were sitting examinations.
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Police Primary School Cluster Supervisor Esther Kanthiti said all candidates were present.
“We have not encountered any problem and we started examinations in time,” she said.
Sister Ruth Kamwendo of Bwaila Cluster said there were 128 candidates sitting examinations.
“One candidate is reportedly an absentee. We don’t know grounds for absenteeism,” Kamwendo said.
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In Nsanje District, examinations’ administration started on a good note as all centres registered no problem.
The Daily Times crew visited centres such as Nyamadzere Model, Nsanje Catholic and Kapalakonje primary schools to appreciate progress of the same.
Nsanje District Chief Education Officer Macshades Dakamau said they were satisfied with progress.
“I am saying this after visiting centres such as Magoti, Phokera, Bangula, Mlonda, Nyamadzere, Nsanje Catholic and Kapalakonje. The impression I have is that we have started well. Supervisors, invigilators and security officers did well,” Dakamau said.
At Nyamadzere school, we found Nsanje Police Station Officer-in-Charge Joseph Mutupha, who was ensuring that security was tight.
In Mzuzu City, candidates braved cold weather to sit examinations at such centres as Zolozolo, St Peter’s and Katoto.
And, at all centres, there was tight security provided by the Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service.
At Zolozolo Primary School, candidates were allowed into examination rooms 30 minutes before the start time.
One candidate, Filloz Wachali, sounded optimistic on chances of passing the examinations with flying colours.
“I am well prepared for the examinations because I have been studying hard, especially in mathematics. I want to be selected to a boarding secondary school. I also advise my friends to work hard and listen to the invigilators to avoid disqualification,” he said.
On the first day of examinations, candidates sat English, social and religious studies.
In Mangochi District, girls dominated PSLCE candidature.
Reacting to the development, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology described the trend as encouraging.
Deputy Minister of Education Nancy Chaola Mdooko made the remarks when she monitored examinations administration progress in selected primary schools in Mangochi District.
Out of 8,595 candidates that are sitting examinations in Mangochi, 4,714 are girls and 3,879 are boys.
This is according to information provided by the district education office for Mangochi.
“This is a direct picture which is showing that interventions which the government and organisations are implementing in Mangochi are bearing fruits. We need to continue to support more girls so that we close the literacy gap which is there between men and women in some parts of the country,” Mdooko Chaola said..
She further described this year’s PSLCE examinations as orderly, considering that there is no leakage of examination papers.
“This is so because of a working memorandum which Malawi National Examinations Board signed with the Malawi Police Service and Malawi Defence Force to provide security to examination papers. We are hopeful that this year’s examinations will be successful,” she said.
In his remarks, Mangochi Director of Education and Youth Rabson Kawalala said more boys in Mangochi are dropping out of school before sitting examinations to concentrate on fishing.
“Or else, they trek to South Africa for work. And because of activities we are implementing to encourage girls to go to school, girls are likely to be sitting examinations than boys. This was also the trend last year, when we had 6,163 girls against 5,098 boys,” Kawalala said.
He said about 27 special needs learners are sitting PSLCE examinations compared to 19 who sat the examinations last year.
Meanwhile, Maneb has, in a communication, indicated that everything is going on well.
It further reminds the public that sharing examination materials through social media is a crime punishable by law.
Maneb has urged people to report any suspected case of examination malpractice to the police and Maneb.
“Become a whistleblower by reporting all suspected cases of examination malpractice to your police station or call the Maneb toll-free line,” the communication reads.
