Maneb says all set for this year’s MSCE examination 

The Malawi National Examination Board (Maneb) has said examination papers for this year’s Malawi Schools Certificate of Education  (MSCE) examination have already been sent to District Education Offices.

Manèb Spokesperson Simeon Maganga told Nyasa Times that all is set for the national examination with candidates expected to sit for the first paper on Thursday this wèek.

Maganga said currently candidates are verifying their identity cards with the Board, especially whose ID’s had problems.

“Delivery of identity cards for 2017 MSCE exam candidates started on June 2 in all regions and we started accepting queries immediately. All registered candidates were requested to be in touch with their schools for ID collection and query solving,” said Maganga.

The Board has been carrying out various initiatives such as comedies and debates on state broadcaster MBC Television to disseminate messages against cheating and other malpractices during exams.

“The purpose has indeed been achieved. The knowledge gap which was there regarding national examinations has been reduced. This has been manifested in increased tip-offs from the public which has helped to curb exam malpractices.

“Further, there is a mindset change on ownership of exams. Initially, exams were regarded as Maneb exam. But after awareness campaign, people have now realised that exams a property of the nation as they are produced by taxpayers money hence the need to safeguard them,” said Maganga.

Over 246,000 candidates registered for this year’s national examination.

According to the MSCE examination time table, final papers will be witten on Monday,  July 17.

Meanwhile,  Malawi, through Maneb, will host the 11th Conference of the Southern Africa Association for Education Assessment (SAAEA) next month.

The conference will be held at the Sunbird Nkopola Lodge in Mangochi from 17th to 19th July under the theme: Promoting Excellence in Assessment for Quality Education.

According to a statement posted on Meneb website, SAAEA was established primarily to provide a platform for test developers, educationists, administrators, curriculum specialists and researchers, among others, to exchange ideas and good practices of conducting educational assessments within the Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) region.

The objectives of SAAEA are to encourage and facilitate dialogue among member states and institutions concerning education assessment systems; to promote cooperation among educational assessment agencies within the SADC region and to: to provide a forum where test developers, educationists, curriculum specialists and researchers can exchange ideas and good practices related to educational assessment.