MCP says secondary school selection has ‘quota system’: Mia condemns Std 8 results

Malawi Congress Party (MCP) has said there is a need for an immediate explanation from MANEB on the criteria used in the recent Primary School Leaving Certificate Education (PSLCE) selection of candidates into secondary school, saying the selection favoured one region.

Mia and MCP officials addressing a press conference

MCP Vice President Sidik Mia condemns the recent PSLCE selection of learners on Friday during a press briefing which was held at MCP office in Lilongwe.

He faulted the criterion saying it is a quota system and he demanding an explanation from MANEB to clarify on this.

“We are demanding an explanation from MANEB on the criteria it used in the selection of learners because the recent selection has favored one region. Failure to provide us with an explanation we would request Malawians to ask response from government,” Mia said

He added that, it is evidently clear that even an aided eye could spot that one region has benefited a lion’s share in the national secondary schools saying this is injustice that the party has been talking about hence claiming that the move does not promote social justice.

As a party we believe in one Malawi and when everyone is given an opportunity to prosper as we deal decisively and promote the rule of law through sovereign leadership.

“MCP believes that playing with education and compromising education standards compromises the future development agenda,Mia said

Deputy Director for Economic Affairs, Sosten Gwengwe said MCP as party believes in merit so that everyone should be given an opportunity to benefit regardless of a political party or region someone might belong to.

“Equity has not been used in the selection, as MCP we are pushing for Merit, any deserving kid as long as that kid is a Malawian must be given chance of that slice cake of National Secondary School,he said.

Gwengwe stressed that if someone looks at this year’s results; merit has not been used hence demanding those accountable to openly come for explanation.

“If we look at the results, does it mean that quality of education is poor in other regions and much higher in other regions? Those responsible should respond in an open,he said.

Apart from bringing laziness among learners, the selection criteria portray regionalism and lack of patriotism referring to the recent scenario at Dedza secondary school.

Among 150 learners selected to start form 1 at the said secondary school, 116 are from south, 34 from Central while there is none from northern region among others.

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aNNSA
aNNSA
4 years ago

In Trade, Sports, Government, Civil Society, Culture, Education, kaya agriculture etc QUOTA HAS BEEN USED, as a deliberate policy, maiko ambiri, olemela komanso osauka amagwilitsa ntchito Quota, stop talking about MERIT! you can not have a few educated from certain tribe thats a cause of trouble in itself. TANENANI MA SOLUTION. KOMA MUSIYE ZOTI ATUMBUKA NDI ANZERU CHIFUKWA PALIBE MTUMBUKA AMENE ANANDIPOSAPO NKALASI komano ambiri anali ndi mwayi ophunzira komanso amakankhana.

aNNSA
aNNSA
4 years ago

WE NEED QUOTA SO MUCH, otherwise you can not have northerners dominating everything in the government, Civil service, too many northern lawyers. Everybody knows NORTHERNERS ARE TOO EDUCATED. A misconception is northerners are clever NORTHERNERS ARE NOT CLEVER, i have lived among them, gone to school with them, have northern family members. They just had OPPORTUNITIES WITH EDUCATION AND EVERY CHANCE THEY PUSH EACH OTHER. Its the opportunity to good education. AT THE MOMENT THE ONLY SOLUTION IS QUOTA. ONLY QUOTA. Kamuzu, Bakili, Bingu all thought QUOTA IS THE RIGHT WAY!!!!! THERE IS NO ANY OTHER SOLUTION AT THE MOMENT.… Read more »

BENEFICIARY OF KOTA SYSTEM
BENEFICIARY OF KOTA SYSTEM
4 years ago

Malawi has got enough problems already with its rapid population growth which eats up any gain created by the country economically and creating education system based on stupidity and not merit is suicidal.

Boyd Mwale
Boyd Mwale
4 years ago

Can someone provide the makeup of candidates selected to start Form 1 at Mzimba Secondary School.

Che Wanimiliyoni
Che Wanimiliyoni
4 years ago

Tribalism in this country is growing out of control so much so that people are now not comfortable to mention their tribe. In my opinion our emphasis on “home village address” is the one escalating the problem. Can’t govt policy stop emphasis on use of “kumudzi kwanu nkuti” and instead place much priority on residential address, after all we have national identities now. If my memory serves me right one Ralph Kasambala, SC argued with the court after he preferred to use a residential address in preference to village address. Why should one be forced to use village address if… Read more »

BRAVE NORTHERNER, NO RETREAT NO SURRENDER

It was the MCP that introduced the quota system as another way to oppress the Northerners. When the British came to Malawi it was only the Northerners that accepted circular education. Circular education became part of the Northerners’ culture while other regions’ culture was very much influenced by Islam. Kamuzu Banda tried by all means necessary to oppress the Northerners but that caused exodus of the Northerners into neighboring countries where their kids got educated. To deny a child to self educate himself/herself is a human rights abuse. The Northerners are being punished because they were the first people to… Read more »

Yes
Yes
4 years ago

Secular

Revolutionary
4 years ago

U are living in denial it is MCP’s chewas and Northerners who are burning and looting offices and businesses and it is sheer madness to connect the DPP to the violence after the elections…you have pathological hate for the DPP but the truth of the matter is that it won the elections…. Northerners you suck!

Chittanooga
Chittanooga
4 years ago

Brave, you have laid the facts bare. The Rwanda scenario is on all fours in Malawi. One correction. It is not Interhangwe but “intaharamwe”. The brandishing of panga and machete is indeed synonymous with this savage grouping that slaughtered thousands of Tutsis and moderate Hutus. Not good for Malawi.

Amfumu
4 years ago

Now MCP wants to divert peoples attention from the presidential elections court case. Kkkkk.

Winston Msowoya
Winston Msowoya
4 years ago

Generally,quota system is like national catastrophe or tribal cleansing against the people of the North who bravely fought for the freedom of our fatherland Malawi.The fact that,the Malawi Congress Party was the first to introduce tribalistic QUOTA SYSTEME on its road to suppress the gallant people of the North.No MCP,the people of the North,will survive until the end of the earth because the Lord God is with us and indeed,he is the one who instilled sharp brains in us.We are the ones who formed AFRCAN NATIONALCONGRESS in 1944 by our hero LEVI Z.MUMBA after another hero JOHN CHILEMBWE,confronted militarily the… Read more »

Ada Banda
Ada Banda
4 years ago

I hate it more when this condemnation comes from stupid Mia and his MCP, thinking we are daft. The quota vocabulary was introduced by them in the first place in Malawi and DPP have just inherited it. Mia was in the DPP government not long ago, why did he not condemn the system when he was part of the government then? Do these people think we are not wise enough to know the game they are playing? Our God given wisdom and intelligence will still prevail no matter what. Can’t you pause for a while and wonder why despite your… Read more »

Mbwiye
Mbwiye
4 years ago

Sometimes some people write emotionally on issues that are characterized with nepotism. In almost every district you still find some people telling you that kino sikwanu. I have worked in seven districts in Malawi and in these I have suffered nepotistic behaviors by the citizens of those districts. So there is more to this than kungolankhula. Anthuwa a kumpoto enaso they are worse off than other tribes. They give their relatives stepping stones do that they should have good life all the way. Odzikonda kwambiri. Amapita zomwe zabwino zikhale zawo. So before writing on this topic check yourself or else… Read more »

My Malawi my national
4 years ago
Reply to  Mbwiye

The discussions sound very good. We are all one upon God’s eyes!!!! Know that

Chittanooga
Chittanooga
4 years ago
Reply to  Mbwiye

Mbwiye, correct. But those espousing quota system are doing the same evil that has been smeared on the very same people you have alluded to as “odzikonda”. The biggest problem in Malawi is lack of resources. When people scramble for few resources, they always fight. If those in power can build as many secondary schools and universities or colleges as possible to carter for those thirty for education, this quota system will be useless. Why there is no willingness to do that is a mystery. For the time being quota system is a source of conflict and it will soon… Read more »

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