Standard 8 exams start on positive note
About 266 639 candidates nationwide yesterday started writing their Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examinations.
Random spot-checks yesterday in the country’s three regions established that the examinations started in good time with high security.
Nanjiriri Primary School deputy head teacher Blessings Kafumbwe, who is supervising St. Pius Primary School cluster centre, said prior to the examination, the students were informed about the dangers of cheating and the penalties involved.
He said: “Everything is going on well, candidates are arriving in good time and all Covid-19 prevention measures are being followed. We were expecting 212 candidates from the four schools that are writing their examinations from this centre but one did not show up and it is reported that she fell pregnant.”
On the other hand, Namatapa Primary School head teacher Elizabeth Mtoseni, who is supervising at Chichiri Primary School examination cluster centre, said out of the expected 447 candidates, two did not show up and no reason was given.
The atmosphere was quiet at Katoto Primary School in Mzuzu and Mai Aisha Academy in Lilongwe where security personnel were seen on alert.
However, some candidates in Chikwawa have failed to sit for the examinations as they did not pay for their Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) candidate identity cards.
Chikwawa District Civil Society Organisations chairperson Lewis Msiyadungu said about 128 learners in their district will not sit for the PSLCE, Junior Certificate and Malawi School Certificate of Education.
Maneb spokesperson Mayamiko Chiwaya said the board has not received any report of challenges and all centres were administering the examination as expected.
Minister of Education Agnes NyaLonje on Tuesday said her ministry was ready to administer the 2022 PSLCE and there is watertight security against possible cheating and other malpractices.
She said: “We have tight security that will be provided jointly by the Malawi Police Service and the Malawi Defence Force. So all I can say is that we are prepared.”
NyaLonje disclosed that special arrangements have been made forcandidates with special needs by providing them with amenities to facilitate their seamless writing of the examinations.
