Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) will today start administering the 2026 Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) examinations with 162 967 candidates registered.
The candidates will sit for their final paper on June 10, according to a Maneb examinations time table.
Maneb said in a statement dated May 13 2026 that preparations for the examinations are finalised and all was set.
Maneb spokesperson Angela Kashitigu, speaking in an interview yesterday, said they do not expect challenges.
She said any issues that may arise, particularly regarding the payment of supervisors and invigilators, are usually isolated cases linked to administrative errors such as incorrect bank details or failed transactions.
“The challenge is that we do not deal with supervisors or invigilators individually. We deal with districts, which are the ones that submit their details. So if there are any issues, they are usually isolated cases where someone may have provided wrong bank details, or the money may be bounced back by the bank,” said Kashitigu.
But Secondary School Teachers Union president Pilirani Kapolo said in an interview there were already hitches in the system, including delays in the payment of allowances for some teachers assigned to invigilation duties.
He said while some examination administrators have received their payments, others are yet to be paid.
“In Nkhata Bay, for example, some teachers have not received money yet they will need to travel and sleep there during the examination period,” said Kapolo.
Civil Society Education Coalition executive director Benedicto Kondowe said these challenges keep recurring every examination cycle and continue to affect the smooth running of national examinations.
Teachers Union of Malawi president Charles Kumchenga said the union was not formally engaged by Maneb in this year’s examination preparations, unlike in previous years when consultations were held.
He said Maneb used to share examination plans with stakeholders, allowing teachers to raise concerns and suggest improvements.
There are 614 915 candidates registered for this year’s examinations comprising Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE), JCE and Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLSCE). Of these, 316 764 are female and 309 428 are male.
