Ministry releases wrong 2012 MSCE results
The Ministry of Education has published a wrong list of students who scored between six and 15 points in the 2012 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations.
This has angered private schools which have demanded an apology and clarification from the ministry and Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) for misleading the nation with wrong information.
President of Independent Schools Association of Malawi (Isama) Joseph Patel confirmed the development on Friday, saying the issue has caused panic among schools and pupils.
“Isama would like to inform the general public that the press release issued by [the ministry] on 22 December, 2012, titled ‘Analysis of the Malawi School Certificate of Education 2012 (MSCE) Results’ signed by Anjimile Mtila Oponyo (PS), is false. The analysis does not portray the real image of 2012 MSCE results in our private schools,” he said.
Patel said Isama questions government’s motive in releasing wrong information, which he said has caused pain and damage to private school owners, pupils, parents and guardians.
“Isama is asking the Minister of Education to apologise to the nation and private schools for releasing wrong 2012 MSCE results through media houses. If the Ministry of Education doesn’t apologise, then Isama members are ready to drag the ministry and Maneb to court for damaging their schools’ image…they have put our business in jeopardy,” he said.
Investigations Nation on Sunday conducted show that the MSCE results the ministry released were for 2011.
Emily Nyirenda, deputy head teacher for Mary Mount Girls Private School, said the best performing student at the school in 2012 was Temwani Msiska who scored six points.
She said Msiska had seven distinctions. However, according to the ministry’s statement, Mary Tamanda Macheso was the best student with nine points, followed by Rehema Mwenda who had 11 points.
“I can confirm the two names are indeed for Mary Mount but they are for 2011,” said Nyirenda.
Matindi Academy has been forced to publish the correct list of the students who passed the examinations in 2012.
“…some parents, guardians and students complained that some deserving students from the school who fall in the range of six to 15 points were left out…” reads the school’s media release.
Maneb executive director Roy Hauya distanced his institution from the list, saying Maneb does not publish names of candidates in newspapers.
Spokesperson for the ministry, Lindiwe Chide, asked for more time to check the facts.
