MSCE exams start, govt to review quota system
The 2012/2013 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations has started on Wednesday with 130,000 candidates slated to sit for the two-week test.
Malawi National Examination Board (Maneb) in a press statement has since warned the law will take its course on those caught cheating.
130,000 students from both government and private schools including external have registered for this year’s examination, 30 percent higher from last year where 99,000 candidates sat for similar examination.
And meanwhile, Ministry of Education has revealed that government will review the controversial quota system introduced by DPP led government.
Principal Secretary for the ministry, John Bisika told the local press that the PP led government will throw into reviewing court the quota system, which has been used to select students into the country’s university colleges based on their district of origin.
Bisika said once the issues has been reviewed will be sent to Parliament for approval, meaning that once the august House endorses the reviewed copy, then the quota system will be abolished.
DPP led government headed by former President late Bingu wa Mutharika between 2009-2010 introduced quota system on arguments that the normal system was only favoring a section and not the whole nation.
Quota system was introduced amidst protests and concerns from various sectors of the society including the clergy and human rights activists.
And the issue was one of the main points raised during the 2011 controversial demonstrations and this year’s petition the civil society activists raised to Mutharika before his death.
