Activist calls for probe of Maneb over Malawi MSCE exams leak

Human rights activist Billy Mayaya said the arrests of eight e students for being in possession of leaked Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination papers is “justified” but has called on a probe to Malawi Examinations Board (Maneb).

Mayaya’s comments posted on his Facebook Timeline comes after Maneb  in conjunction with Police, this week, arrested eight students for being in possession of leaked MSCE examination papers.

The arrest happens barely two weeks after the authorities dismissed the leakage of this year’s MSCE examinations.

The suspects, three from Chichiri Secondary School, one from Likuni Boys Secondary School, two from Chipasula Secondary School, one at Liwizi Anglican Church Cluster Centre and another one at Chimutu Cluster Centre, are said to have been found in possession of prepared answers that matched papers that they sitting.

Mayaya: Probe Maneb and printers
Mayaya: Probe Maneb and printers

“Arresting students in MANEB leaks is justified,” said Mayaya, adding “but the investigations must begin at MANEB and the printers.”

However, Maneb Director of Security, Robert Harawa downplayed the arrest as a clear sign that this year’s examinations have been massively hit by leakage but said the institution’s officials have been deployed country wide to monitoring the situation.

Southern Region Police Headquarters spokesperson, Nicholas Gondwa said the Chichiri Secondary School candidates were granted bail the same day and were allowed to proceed writing the examinations.

Gondwa said the three (name withheld) admitted to a charge of gaining access to examination materials without authority which is contrary to Section 14 (sub-sec 2A) of the Maneb Act, Chapter 3004.

“At a time they were caught by Maneb officials, they were writing Physical Science. They admitted to the charges and were let out on bail to continue with their examinations. They will appear in court after the examinations,” said Gondwa.

Meanwhile, Mzuzu Government Secondary School Form Four students on Tuesday staged a protest after suspecting that some candidates had benefited from the leakage.

Mzuzu Police spokesperson, Maurice Chapola on Wednesday confirmed the protest but expressed ignorance of any examination leakage.

He said the law-enforcers went to the school after being alerted about the protest.

“We are investigating what sparked the protest. No one has been arrested, but we will soon find out what the protest was all about,” he said.

And Deputy National Police spokesperson Kelvin Maigwa said, in all instances, it was the same trend that the said students were copying their answers from somewhere and, after cross-checking, it was noted the answers matched with actual questions.

Maigwa said there is a need for all stakeholders, including parents and students to join hands in curbing the malpractice and leakage of examinations.

“As police, we cannot win the battle alone. We need concerted efforts. We need even the candidates themselves to come forward whenever they suspect that someone has examination papers. We have to be aware that examinations are a national event,” said Maigwa.

News has been awash in social media network sites that this year’s MSCE exams have been leaked and that vendors are selling the papers in some streets in Malawi’s capital Lilongwe and other places.

Maneb executive director Roy Hauya while confirming receiving reports from the public on the leakages, insisted that the exams are protected.

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