Students walk to raise funds for exams

Students from 12 secondary schools in Ngumbe cluster in Blantyre on Friday held a big walk aimed at raising K1.8 million ($3 010) for the processing and running of Form Four mock examinations.
Over 300 students from the schools which included Army Secondary School, Nkula, Chigumukile and Chikuli Community Day secondary schools took part in the six kilometer big walk which started from Ngumbe Secondary to Lunzu primary schools.

Headmaster for Ngumbe secondary school who is also Chairperson for the cluster Wyson Phiri said for a long time, schools from the area have failed to produce good grades in the Malawi School Certificate of Education exams (MSCE) and cited lack of preparation as a contributing factor.
Many of our students are not being selected to university because of poor grades. This strategy is to enable us come up with standard mock exams equivalent to those from Malawi National Examinations Board[Maneb] as a way of preparing the students,” said Phiri.
Lieutenant Jones Kwepeya, MDF teacher and member of the cluster committee said the committee was touched to note that some schools in the cluster failed to administer mock exams due to financial constraints.
“I am optimistic that through this initiative we will achieve our goal. We have approached several companies and organizations and many have promised to support us” said Kwepeya.
Kwepeya added that the cluster committee plans to introduce quiz competitions, debates and science fairs in the schools to instill a spirit of competition among the students thereby advancing students’ performance.
Yohane Ndhlovu, a form four student from Army secondary school expressed gratitude to the teachers for having the welfare of students at heart.
He said with the current economic hardships, it was hard for parents to provide for every academic need of their children and such efforts by teachers were commendable.
He urged companies and organizations to come forward and support the initiative.