Nelson Galeta, a parent, walked into a school meeting yesterday visibly angry and deeply concerned.
Dressed in a light-blue shirt topped with a black-and-grey diamond-patterned sweater, the 65-year-old said he could not believe the 2025 Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) results released by MANEB.
His frustration stems from Galeta Primary School’s dismal performance. While nationwide 216,972 out of 246,958 candidates passed, Galeta registered zero out of its 11 learners—six girls and five boys.
“I cannot believe this,” he said repeatedly, shaking his head. To him, the failure is a result of parental negligence.
But Group Village Headwoman Galeta attributes the poor results to the lack of basic educational resources.
Established in 1994 and tucked away in Chimteka Zone under Traditional Authority Simphasi in Mchinji, Galeta Primary has only four teachers who must handle classes from Standard One to Eight.
For the chief, the results reflect years of neglect.
“How do you expect learners to perform in this condition?” she asked, pointing at broken desks and bare classroom walls.
“Something must change. Teachers, parents, and government—we all have to wake up,” she urged.
A teacher at the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals, added that apart from inadequate materials, absenteeism is a major challenge.
“The children come to school hungry; some walk long distances just to attend classes,” the teacher said.
District education authorities have since acknowledged the school’s poor performance. Director of Education Joyce Hamis promised to review the results and provide support.
She also called on government to decentralise school inspections, while urging teachers to change their attitude and fully commit to their duties.
