MANEB suspends proposed Medical Test Policy

The Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) has temporarily suspended the medical test policy for markers it wants to introduce following a meeting with Teachers Union of Malawi (TUM) on Thursday in Lilongwe.

Charles Kumchenga: They did not consult TUM

MANEB wants teachers selected to mark examinations to start undergoing medical checkup first before being given the role.

In a circular released on 12th February, 2019, MANEB says over the past years it has been experiencing increased cases of markers falling sick or dying thereby negatively affecting validity and reliability of examination results.

To this effect, MANEB says introduction of the medical test policy is one way of saving teachers’ lives.

But the development did not amuse TUM which said teachers were not consulted during the formulation process.

TUM’s General Secretary Charles Kumchenga expressed dissatisfaction in an interview saying MANEB did not follow the right procedure in coming up with the policy.

“TUM is an umbrella body for all teachers in Malawi; therefore, we should have been included in the process for MANEB to hear views of teachers as well,” Kumchenga said.

During the Thursday meeting, the two parties reached a consensus that in the 2019 marking year, teachers shall not be required to undergo medical checkup.

Furthermore, Kumchenga said TUM has requested MANEB to conduct a sensitisation exercise first should it decide to implement the policy.

“We have asked MANEB to consult all relevant stakeholders so that they should know all the pros and cons of the proposed policy,” Kumchenga said.

In an interview, Kamkodola Primary School Headteacher Beatrice Gondwe congratulated TUM for speaking on behalf of all teachers regarding the proposed policy.

“Teachers should not be taken for granted; what MANEB did was typical segregation. Therefore, we thank TUM for airing out our views,” Gondwe said.

During the meeting, TUM also expressed concern over working conditions for markers.

It bemoaned that markers sleep in classrooms, start work around 3am up to 11 pm and receive little allowance, among other issues.

In response, MANEB promised to look into the issues raised.

 

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chipatso mbewe
chipatso mbewe
5 years ago

Kodi iwo a MANEB akutanthauza chiyani? Bwanji aphunzitsiwo sawachotsa ntchito chifukwa choti ali positive? they can teach but should not mark the exams? what does this mean? achotsenitu ntchito aphunzitsi onse omwe ali positive, so that they should not have chance to go mark the exams. this is segregation at its best. a Malawi munakhala bwanji kodi? suja inu mumapita ku maiko anzathu ku school muli positive, bwanji samakuyezani kuti akubwezeni kwanu? mmmmmmmmm shame on MANEB. The one who started this issue , muyezetseni iyeyo, tione ngati ali negative. This whole Malaawi i full of positive people , every office… Read more »

Bulutu
Bulutu
5 years ago

If MANEB want efficiency and timely marking of exams, it should have the allowances readily available and pay at the end of each day and this will minimize petty excuses. real excuses like sickness or death where one cannot execute duties is unavoidable by man. it is only God who has control over that. So MANEB wake up and get prepared with allowances ready and you will see how fast your job will be done.

George Malemu
George Malemu
5 years ago

I wonder how crazy MANEB is by saying teachers die while in the course of marking, has death have specific areas where one can die? Has no MANEB official die in the course of duty apart from being at MANEB buildings. How don you expect teachers not to get sick when they are forced to start marking at 3 am and retire at 11 pm? Mind you the Employment Act Section 36 says every employee is supposed to work 8 hours in a day and excess to that is Over Time but these poor teachers are made to work 20… Read more »

Mutumwa
Mutumwa
5 years ago
Reply to  George Malemu

Iyitu si permanent employment, ndi ganyu iyi! They are paid according to the papers they mark! They are not paid a salary, they are not on Maneb payroll, understand these things and differentiate boss!

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