Malawi National Examinations Board 2016 Examination Summary

By | September 11, 2016

Malawi National Examinations Board 2016 Examination Summary

1.0       Preamble

The Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) was established by an Act of Parliament in April, 1987. This was a result of merging the Malawi Certificate Examinations and Testing Board (MCE&TB) with the Examinations Section in the Ministry of Education.
The MCE&TB had been created in 1969 by yet an Act of Parliament to take charge of the process of localising the development and administration of national examinations in Malawi. Prior to 1969, learners finishing their secondary education used to sit for the Cambridge Overseas School Leaving Certificate examination.
The current Act mandates MANEB to develop and administer such academic, technical and other examinations at the conclusion of the approved primary school, secondary school, technical college, Teachers Training College and other courses in Malawi as it may be considered desirable in the public interest.

Further, the Act empowers MANEB to award certificates to successful candidates in such examinations. The Malawi National Examination Board (MANEB) once again administered the 2016 national examinations successfully.
MANEB is driven by the following:

Vision

To be a highly reputable, credible and internationally recognised examining body.

Mission

To conduct valid and reliable examinations for certification, selection and placement purposes; and provide professional advice relating to assessment and examinations.

Mandate

•           Conduct academic and other examinations at the conclusion of any approved course in Malawi as it may be considered in the public interest.
•           Award Certificates and Diplomas to successful candidates in such examinations.

Core values

•           Equitability and fairness
•           Efficiency, innovativeness and responsiveness
•           Professionalism and integrity
•           Security cautiousness
•           Transparency and accountability

2.0       Examinations administered

As per its mandate, MANEB administered the 2016 national examinations were administered as follows:
·         Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examination from 11th May to 13th May;
·         Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) examination (the last to be administered) from 31st May to 10th June; and
·         Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination from 22nd June to 20th July.
Delivery of all examination materials was done on time and all designated examination centered ably administered all examinations without fail.
As was the case in the years 2014 and 2015, MANEB once again posted leakage-free examinations as no candidate had access to any of the question paper prior to the set date and time for writing. This success story was a result of concerted efforts between MANEB and all its stakeholders such as the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, Education Divisions, District Education Offices, the Malawi Police Service, Primary Education Advisors, teachers, students, the Anti-Corruption Bureau, Teachers Union of Malawi, Independent Schools Association of Malawi, Civil Society Organisations, local universities, the Clergy, District Councils, City Councils, Media Institute of Southern Africa-Malawi Chapter, Journalists Union of Malawi, Editors Forum (Malawi) and Office of the Ombudsman, just to mention but a few.

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3.0 Cheating cases:

Most of the cheating cases recorded were as a result of tip-offs received from members of the general public through direct phone calls, messages through our Facebook page or TNM toll-free line (1991).

A.    At PSLCE level

i.        Blantyre: School-leaver, Faith Lawrence, was arrested over impersonation as he was allegedly writing examination on behalf of a duly registered candidate. Investigations revealed that this was orchestrated the head teacher of Chipwepwete Primary School, Noel Lunguja. He, too, was arrested. The matter is currently in court.
ii.      Lilongwe: Chiyeso Jifa, Supervisor at Mkazomba Cluster Center in Bunda area, was arrested on allegation that he went to collect examination papers without police escort and lost an envelope containing live English examination papers in the process. He was charged with failing to take due care of national examinations. He has since been convicted and given a suspended sentence.
iii.    Lilongwe: Elise Dumbo-Zimba, invigilator at Thawale Cluster Center, was arrested on allegation that she revealed answers to candidates through dictation during an English paper. When interviewed separately by MANEB officials, both the candidates and the invigilator confessed to have committed the crime. Winston Nankumba, supervisor at the centre, was arrested too for allowing the invigilator to commit the crime under his watch. Both have been found with a case to answer before the Lilongwe Magistrate Court.
iv.    Chikwawa: Moses Derema, a teacher at Kagolo Primary School but working as an invigilator, was arrested for allegedly assisting his son and the son’s friend during the Chichewa paper. The matter is not yet concluded.

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B.     At JCE level

i.         Zomba: Candidate Joseph Mataya got arrested at Nasawa CDSS Cluster Centre for being found in possession of unauthorized reference material. He pleaded guilty to the charge and was sentenced to a two-year jail term or in default a fine of K50,000. He paid the fine.
ii.         Lilongwe: Candidate Liphet Gambatula was found with unauthorized reference material. She pleaded guilty to the charge. She got convicted on her own plea of guilty and given a suspended sentence.

C.    At MSCE level

i.      Lilongwe: Candidate Maxwell Mkwezalamba registered for the 2016 MSCE under the name Maliseni Kafundu. He had secured employment with the Ministry of Health (working as HSA at Chiwamba Health Centre) under someone’s certificate (Kafundu) so he wanted to regularize his employment by getting an original certificate in that name. He was arrested for impersonation and uttering false document; and taken to Mkukula Magistrate Court in Lumbadzi where he got convicted on his own plea of guilty. He was fined K100,000 or in default serve a 12-month IHL. He paid the fine.
ii.      Balaka: Candidate Joseph Makiyi, an employee of Prison Fellowship, had registered for the 2016 MSCE but hired Charles Kumwenda to write the examination on his behalf. Both were arrested for impersonation and convicted by the court on their own pleas of guilty. Makiyi was sentenced to a six-year IHL or in default pay K80,000 while Kumwenda was fined K70,000 of in default serve a four-year IHL. Both paid the fines.
iii.      Balaka: Candidate Zamadula Macheka, teacher at Dziwe FP School but writing the examination to upgrade his qualifications, was arrested for possessing unauthorised reference material. He got convicted on his own plea of guilty and was sentenced to pay a K50, 000 fine or in serve a two-year jail term. He paid the fine.

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4.0 Conclusion and Way forward

MANEB would like to thank all stakeholders and the general public for owning national examinations and participating in the exercise which has paid dividends by arresting examination leakage this year.
MANEB will continue engaging various stakeholders in its quest to make examination malpractices history for the general good of our country and all its citizens.
 THE END