We are up against organised corruption—Maneb

This year’s Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations have been marred by massive leakages, leading to the arrest of several students who were found with some examination papers. This is becoming a recurring problem in recent years. Has Maneb failed its job? Malawi National Examinations Board (Maneb) executive director Roy Hauya speaks to Albert Sharra on the exam leakages and how the board plans to move forward.

 It is reported that some 2013 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations papers have leaked. Is Maneb aware of this?

Yes, Maneb is aware of the leakage. From the start of the examinations, Maneb has had its officers on the ground, monitoring and supporting invigilation in all 34 education districts in the country.

The leakage this time is different from 2012 in some ways, but also similar in others. The major difference is that more papers became exposed compared to 2012 when it was largely mathematics papers. Candidates have been caught with full original papers, or full papers copied on A4 sheets in long handwriting or in some cases selected questions and answers, probably those considered hard. What is generally similar is that it is highly concentrated in urban areas, especially in Lilongwe City, to a less extent Blantyre City and much less Mzuzu City, according to Maneb feedback and police arrests.

MSCE examinations papers leakages are being reported almost every year. Does this mean Maneb is failing to protect the examination papers?

No it does not; far from it. It only means that as a country we are up against organised corruption supported by a conspiracy of silence by those who know where this is happening and who is behind the annual leakages. People will go on to leak examinations as long as the blame goes to Maneb even when Maneb has done what it is technical sound to safeguard the examinations.

I believe that things will change when Malawians decide to take three simple decisions. First, to be able to speak up and be prepared to testify against those who are behind this crime, because we know them; second to apply the law to the full to punish those who indulge in the heinous practice, including the candidates who benefit from such corruption and third, when we realise that examination production and administration is a long assembly line which involves more than Maneb, and that in almost all cases examinations become more exposed to abuse after delivery because the people who take over the process are not as attached to these documents as Maneb professionals are. This, to me, is the bottom line.

  This year, many students have been caught possessing the leaked papers, but Maneb has not stopped the examinations. What is Maneb going to do on this?

Maneb has acted swiftly to check all examinations centres and, with the leadership of Malawi Police Service, has had many candidates arrested for the crime. There are ongoing efforts by both Maneb and police to get to the source of the leakage as a basis for prosecution, but also to let Malawians know where the problem really lies and so seek and find lasting solutions. Stopping an examination is not the solution. It actually creates a whole host of other problems and challenges to move forward, unless an express decision is made to re-administer. Even that is in my judgment the last resort and must be used when all options are exhausted. In any case such a decision depends on findings, recommendations and other logistical factors going beyond just money.

There have been propositions from the community that Maneb should stop dealing with the police in examinations, saying they aid access to the examinations to many people. What is Maneb’s stand on this?

Great question! The fact of the matter is that the police came in due to leakages which increased at the turn of the century. And immediate impact was a drastic drop in such cases till recently when some police officers became involved in exactly what they were brought in to control. Of course, I always say you cannot so harshly judge an institution of 11 000 people because of a few of its members. It is not fair. And the reality is that the police are the best for the business of protecting public and government property, and national examinations are public and government property.

The proposal to review examination security arrangement represents great forward thinking. I come from a generation when we set examinations at home and delivered to Maneb in hard copy; a generation when examinations were kept in the headmasters’ house and there was nothing to fear. However, Malawians need to debate the matter thoroughly as they search for alternative approaches, which could still include the police in other roles. Maneb is all ready to facilitate such debate.

Majority of the students have finished sitting for their examinations. What is your overall impression on the examinations?

While examinations have unfolded against a backdrop of leakage, the general conduct has been very good. We had hard-working supervisors and invigilation teams who worked under hard conditions but made their contribution to the 2013 MSCE examinations. The majority of candidates were honest and well behaved, but gripped by anxiety as to what will happen now that some of their centres proceeded under the spectre of cheating, leakage and constant police presence. From me, it is congratulations on being honest and hard-working. One thing is certain Maneb will not punish people who are innocent.

Any last words to the nation?

Malawi is a nation at risk if we continue to wantonly destroy an education system which has already been in decline since the mid 1990s. If we speak development in short, medium or long terms, the solution is improved education, and this dream is untenable with such corruption, whatever the motive is. As for me, I will go on fighting, and I will fight to win.