School director nabbed for embezzling MSCE exams fees

One of the two directors for Lingua Franca private school in Ndirande, Blantyre has been arrested for allegedly embezzling close to K1 million ($1 399) meant for examination fees for 63 form four students from the school.

The 63 candidates have failed to sit for the ongoing Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations after the school directors allegedly failed to remit examination fees to the Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb).

Blantyre Police assistant spokesperson Andrew Mayawo identified the director as 56-year-old Frackson Chinyama from Khanyepa village in the area of Traditional Authority (T/A) Kadewere in Chiradzulu.

According to head teacher for the school Rex Khembo, one of the directors Gerald Saidi received close to K1 million in examination fees for the 63 candidates who were expected to write their examinations from Soche and Nyambadwe cluster centres but never remitted the examination fees to Maneb.

Saidi is still at large. The directors will answer charges of obtaining money by false pretence.

He said the school has now been closed for the safety of the teachers and students as members of the community have threatened to take unspecified action against the school authorities.

Each student is said to have paid an average of K16 000 in examination registration and fees and ten thousand for school fees per term.