Maneb prides over four yearsof curbing exam leakages

 The Malawi national Examinations board (Maneb) has released the 2023 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination results seven weeks after candidates wrote the exams. The results have registered a pass-rate of 54.40 percent, which is a 4 percent decline compared to the previous results. However, the board has been commended for reducing cases of examination leakage and timely release of results for four consecutive years. Our reporter LUMBANI KAZEZE spoke to the board’s executive director professor DOROTHY NAMPOTA about the encouraging strides. Excerpts

Q. What key factors have helped in the improvement of the administration of examinations and results?

A. The major factor is unity of purpose. Management and staff of Maneb have worked in unison to deliver to the nation valid and reliable examinations. All staff has worked with commitment and selflessness in all processes of examinations including monitoring of examination administration, marking and processing of grades, to achieve this level of efficiency. The second is enhanced working relationships with key stakeholders. Administering examination is a huge task that Maneb alone cannot manage to undertake. Services of key stakeholders such as district education managers, teachers and teacher associations, come handy during this time. On the security front, services of the Malawi Defence Force and the Malawi Police Service are vital. As Maneb management, we have continued to strengthen our relationships with these key stakeholders to ensure unity of purpose. The third is goodwill of all Malawians. I have seen increased interest to ensure valid examinations from the general public over the years. Each year, there are whistleblowers that alert us on planned examination malpractices across the country through our toll free line 363 and other means, and we deal with them accordingly. The improvement in the administration of examinations is therefore as a result of collective efforts of all Malawians.

Q. What specific reforms have contributed to the improvement?

A. The reforms that management has implemented in the past three years have indeed contributed, in part, to the improvement in the administration of examinations. One notable reform is the digitalisation of some process including registration of candidates. The introduction of e-registration and e-payment systems has improved our efficiency in handling candidate data and follow-on processes and improved transparency in handling resources generated from examination-related fees. In addition, we have improved our efficiency for marking and processing of grades through improved recruitment of markers, introduction and recruitment of examination auditors to check the marked scripts and, introduction of an online system for capturing scores.

Q. How do you plan to sustain the gains?

A. Our strategy is to continue engaging the various stakeholders that support our work to maintain the momentum set for unity of purpose. With everyone on board, sustainability will not be assured.

Q. Despite the improvement, what are some of the challenges the board is facing?

A. Challenges are always there and these need to be addressed from time to time. The low integrity of some Malawians still needs to be worked on. As you are aware, some teachers still collected fees from candidates and misappropriated them. And yet other Malawians stole examination scripts for some candidates at one school. While the culprits were supported, the behaviour displayed by these irresponsible citizens should be condemned. As Maneb, we do not have our own marking facilities and therefore we outsource. There are times when our markers have faced challenges in the outsourced marking venues that are beyond management control. On the contextual factors, inflation has resulted in rising cost of materials required for processing and printing of examinations against the increasing number of candidates.

Q. What has been the impact of the electronic registration and payment of examination fees?

A. The electronic registration has enhanced tracking of registration by various schools, district officials and Maneb. Furthermore, it has enhanced data management for improved processing of examination papers. The e-payment of examination fees on the other hand has enhanced collection of revenue and helped curb embezzlement of examination fees by some unscrupulous teachers.

Q. Any other remarks

A. The online registration and payment of examination fees for 2024 examinations is now open. Schools should be quick to register their candidates and supply invoice numbers to parents and guardians for payment. Candidate details should be checked carefully before payment is made because the system will not allow any changes to be made after payment. Parents and guardians are urged to pay examination fees through Maneb approved e-payment platforms.