Rumphi DEM outlines plans to improve PSLCE results

Rumphi District education office has said it has put in place measures to improve the district’s Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examination results next year following this year’s poor showing.

In this year’s PSLCE results, the district ranked 32 out of 34 education districts in the country, a drop from last year’s position 31.

Rumphi District education manager McPhine Mzumara blamed, among others, some teachers whom he said failed to finish syllabuses. 

However, he said the district has put in place mechanisms to address the situation.

“We have developed a schedule on curriculum teaching,” said Mzumara.

He said primary education advisers (PEAs) and head teachers will monitor the schedule in sampled schools.

Mzumara further said the district will introduce district tests from Standard Five to Eight starting from this term.

Life Concern director, Peter Gondwe whose organisation looks into youth affairs in Rumphi, said the district’s poor performance in this year’s PSLCE was worrisome.

However, Chimyanga Primary School deputy head teacher Glyn Kumwenda admitted his school did not perform well compared to last year.

“Last year, 25 out of 30 learners passed the PSLCE examinations and eight were selected to various secondary schools. This year, 18 out of 36 learners have passed and five have been selected to community day secondary schools,” he said.

Kumwenda blamed shortage of teachers for the poor results. “There are five teachers, including the head, against eight classes with 460 pupils,” he says.