No ‘examination fees’ in primary school—Maneb

Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) has clarified that there is no examination fees for Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) candidates as they only pay K3 500 for processing identity cards (IDs).

Maneb’s position comes amid calls from education rights activists for the abolition of the fees following revelations that 6 454 learners at primary level might not sit their national examinations due to lack of examination fees this year.

In an interview yesterday, Maneb executive director Professor Dorothy Nampota said: “This money is not for examinations, but just for the ID cards.”

Education activist Benedicto Kondowe said in an interview the intention of offering free primary education is to eliminate financial barriers, as such the demand for fees is contrary to this.

He said: “Government should allocate additional resources to the education sector to cover examination costs at primary level or explore alternative funding mechanisms that do not place a burden on students and their families.”

Edukans country director Limbani Nsapato said by requesting money for ID card, government was perpetuating inequality in access to education and in the long-term may have negative consequences on the students’ academic and socioeconomic prospects.

He suggested examination fees subsidies and an increase in funding to Maneb in the 2024/25 National Budget to address examinations fee needs for primary school learners.

However, academic Steve Sharra said removing the ID card fees for primary school learners or reducing them for secondary students, would blow up the budget on the education sector.

He said: “Resources were already not adequate in the country. What will be important is to stagger examination fee payments over extended periods, by incorporating them into other fees structures each term.”

Nationally, 29 817 candidates for PSLCE, Junior Certificate of Education and Malawi School Certificate of Education failed to pay examinations fees by the closing date of December 31 2023.

Maneb has since extended the period to January 12 2024.