Coalition hails Maneb’s decision to reverse disqualifications

The Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec) has commended the Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) for reversing its earlier decision to disqualify some students it suspected accessed leaked examination papers during the 2012 MSCE examinations.

Maneb announced in November 2012 that it disqualified 2 335 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations candidates for various misconducts, including students the board suspected cheated in the leaked mathematics examination papers I and II.

Csec executive director Benedicto Kondowe said on Tuesday the coalition has welcomed Maneb’s decision.

He, however, said Maneb should always ensure that students are heard before they are disqualified.

“The current contradicting scenarios and decisions by Maneb are an indication that the board has lost direction and thus compromise its credibility.

“To avoid matters reaching this stage [next time], it is better that students are heard before they are disqualified,” he said.

Kondowe also said the security of examination papers may be compromised due to police officers’ low motivation. 

“There are claims that police officers who monitor examinations are not paid in time and that their allowances are low. Maneb has to look into these issues,” he said.

In a separate interview, Maneb spokesperson Gerald Chiunda said their board of directors reversed the decision after the institution investigated to establish the leakage of the mathematics papers I and II.