Maneb confident in MSCE readministration

 Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) acting executive director Dorothy Nampota has assured Malawians of a credible Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination readministration set for January 5 to 29 2021.

In an interview yesterday at Maneb offices in Zomba on the sidelines of a media briefing, she said they have received K4.5 billion from Treasury for the examinations retake.

She said: “Preparations are at an advanced stage and so far, the process of examinations development has been completed and we expect that the examinations will be sent to respective centres from next week.

“From next week, we will also be sending our teams to all districts to orient administrators on the examinations, especially on some modifications that have taken place such as the calendar where we have decided to start with practical examinations, minor subjects and then major subjects.”

Maneb and the Ministry of Education cancelled the 2020 MSCE examinations on November 4 following massive leakage of some papers.

President Lazarus Chakwera, at a media briefing in Lilongwe, directed the Ministry of Education to investigate the leakage and that the then Maneb executive management must be fired.

Findings of the investigations are yet to be known but the executive management has since been replaced by Nampota and her team, currently working in acting capacity.

During the briefing, Nampota, who was accompanied by her acting deputy Dave Kamba Nkadzanja and director of finance Thomas Dokotala, said they have taken on board Malawi Police Service, Malawi Defence Force, National Intelligence Bureau and the Anti-Corruption Bureau to ensure credibility and curb malpractices.

While indicating that 154 146 candidates are sitting the examinations, she said Maneb has identified invigilators who will be paid their allowances in advance.

Nampota said parents and guardians must ensure that their children sit the examinations, adding that orientation of examination administrators will be finished by December 31.

“We have divided the country into four regions and 34 districts. There will be district and regional governors in these districts and regions making sure that the examinations are progressing well,” said Nampota.

The acting executive director added that government has paid practical examination fees to all schools, public and private, and that the schools have since started buying chemicals and other necessities.

On Covid-19 restrictions, Nampota said they will ensure candidates wear face masks and their desks are arranged one metre apart. She said there will be hand-washing facilities in all examination centres, including hand sanitisers.

Maneb announced early this month that the examinations will be re-administered from January 5 to 29, a development which education experts commended government.

Civil Society Education Coalition executive director Benedicto Kondowe told The Nation that when readministering the examinations, Maneb should ensure that all loopholes for malpractices are sealed