By Patience Lunda, Jarson Malowa & Brenda Kayo:
Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations started on a good note in Zomba, Mzuzu and Lilongwe Tuesday.
Random visits by The Daily Times to some examination centres in the three cities confirmed that all preparatory activities such as organisation of seating plans, distribution of identity cards and provision of security were all in place.
Head teacher at Bwaila Secondary School in Lilongwe, Steve Banda, said his candidates were well prepared for the examinations.
“Everything is in place here and we are expecting our students to perform well. We have 671 students who are sitting the examinations here,” Banda said.
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Lilongwe Girls Secondary School has 480 candidates who had gathered outside the examination hall by 8am in preparation for the Agriculture practical paper scheduled for 10am.
Times also visited Katoto and Luwinga secondary schools in Mzuzu where some candidates were found in small groups discussing what to expect in the examinations.
There was tight security at all examination centres with candidates not being allowed to get closer to examination halls until the scheduled time.
One of the candidates, Braverly Banda from Katoto, expressed optimism that he will perform well.
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“I am ready for the examination. I have studied hard and our teachers did their best to prepare us,” Banda said.
Luwinga head teacher Nellie Mhone said they had not encountered any challenges on the first day.
“Our school is ready for the examinations and so are the candidates. We have prepared two rooms for the practical part of the examination and we have not encountered any problems so far,” Mhone said.
Meanwhile, Malawi Prison Service has disclosed that 121 inmates will sit this year’s MSCE examination from last year’s 118.
National Prison Public Relations Officer Chimwemwe Shaba said the examination had also started on a good note in all reformatory centres across the country.
“We have 12 inmates at Bvumbwe Correctional Facility, 22 at Mzuzu, 21 at Blantyre, 23 at Zomba and 29 at Lilongwe. Examinations in these centres have started on a good note but we are appealing to the general public to support us with various items so that inmates in all our prisons learn and write examinations in a conducive environment,” Shaba said.
Spot checks in Zomba revealed that candidates at Likangala, Zomba Urban and Masongola secondary schools were eagerly looking forward to the examinations.
Likangala head teacher Carol Mbewe said she had 496 candidates for the examination.
“There are 241 girls and 255 boys sitting the examination here and they are all set for the first practical paper. So we are all set. Examination papers have already arrived and security is tight,” Mbewe said.
Zomba Urban has 477 candidates sitting the examination, with some from Maloto Private Secondary School.
Gift Chikadza, a Zomba Urban Secondary School candidate, said he was set for the examination.
“I am sure I will make it despite the fact that our schools were closed for a good number of days because of the effects of Cyclone Freddy, cholera and Covid-19,” Chikadza said.
On Monday, Malawi National Examinations Board spokesperson Mayamiko Chiwaya said examination malpractices are punishable by law, hence the need for candidates, examination administrators and the general public to desist from such.
Chiwaya said security for the examination is being jointly provided by Malawi Defence Force and Malawi Police Service personnel.
The number of candidates for this year’s examination has gone up to 160,586 from last year’s 147,977, representing an 8.52 percent increase.
The 2022 examination had a 58.44 percent pass rate with 86,477 candidates making it.
