Maneb blames candidates for poor pass rates

Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) yesterday admitted that it is not pleased with the pass rate and the ratio of female to male candidates that excel in national examinations annually.

Maneb board chairperson Professor John Saka said this in Blantyre on Tuesday in response to a question during a news conference where the board briefed journalists on the 2015 national examinations—Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE), Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) and Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE).

In recent years, commentators have argued that the pass rates are too low and that the difference between males and females excelling in the examinations was on the higher side as it is around 20 percent in favour of males.

But Saka said they work in partnership with government and some issues are dealt with at policy level.

However, when asked why the board only achieved an increase in the pass rate at MSCE level with less than a percentage compared to last year, Saka defended the board, saying the pass rates reflect on individual acquisition of knowledge and skills and subsequent application in an examination setting.

Maneb has declared the 2015 national examinations leakage free with one cheating incident at JCE level. n