By Chisomo Phiri
Following revelations that 29,817 candidates risk not sitting for Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) examinations this year over failure to pay examination fees, the examination body has extended the fees payment period to midnight on January 12 2024.
In a statement released yesterday, MANEB Executive Director Professor Dorothy Nampota said the extension affects those expected to sit for Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE), Junior Certificate of Education (JCE), Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) and Primary Teacher Certificate of Education (PTCE).
Said Nampota: “Parents and guardians, are therefore, being advised to pay the 2024 examination fees for their wards using the following approved payment platforms;
“TNM Mpamba, FDH 525 Mobile Banking, FDH Wallet, FDH Banki Pakhomo, NBS Easy Mobile, National Bank Mo626, Standard bank Unayo and First Capital Bank.”
But commenting on the matter, Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) Executive Director Benedicto Kondowe expressed doubt if the move by MANEB will help the targeted candidates.
“Our own view is that whilst MANEB has shown a good gesture in terms of considering the plight of affected students, we feel the period is inadequate,” said Kondowe.
He said not all the affected candidates will be reached with the three day period.
According to him, MANEB could provide a month long extension period and provide a waver to those who will not manage to pay on financial grounds.
The number of those who had failed to make the payment represented 4.68 percent of the 637,887 candidates registered this year to sit the national examinations.
Initially, MANEB was set to conclude receiving the examination fees on December 31,2023.
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