By Vincent Gunde
The opposition Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) says it is shocked by the news that about 29,817 students will not sit their MANEB examinations this year due to non-payment of examination fees describing this development as very sad.
The DPP says it is sad that the MCP led Tonse Alliance government is not concerned observing that these students have been working hard in school and denying them the opportunity to sit the examinations because they are poor, is a very sad development that the DPP is condemning this.
It says the Tonse Alliance government should know that education is a basic human right that would take the Malawian youth out of poverty level, in equality and ensure sustainable development demanding the MCP led government to allow the 29,817 students who have failed to pay examinations fees sit their examinations.
In a statement dated 10th January, 2024 signed by its Presidential and Party Spokesperson Shadric Namalomba, the DPP has demanded the MCP led government to abolish Primary School Leaving Certificate (PSLCE) of fees to align in the concept of free primary education.
The DPP has also demanded government to take over the cost of preparations and admission of examinations as a way of providing relief to parents and guardians who are trying to recover from all sorts of economic hardships.
It expressed hope that the MCP led Tonse Alliance government will take heed of this free advice from a party that has vast experience in running government reminding it that the party is coming back in 2025 to restore what belongs to Malawians.
The DPP says it is further shocked to learn that this number of 29,817 students has been increasing since the Tonse Alliance government came into power lamenting that this year alone, about 29,817 students will fail to sit for the examinations.
“The figure is double from last year when 15,000 students failed to sit for the examinations, this is an indication that the Tonse Alliance government has left the education system to manage itself and indirectly infringing the rights of the Malawian youth,” reads part of the statement.
The DPP has expressed a concern that the Tonse Alliance government has allowed parents and guardians who are trying to recover from the devastating effects of the 44 percent devaluation of the Kwacha as well as Cyclone Freddy.
It says it is also sad that Government has allowed schools to increase school fees by margins of their own choices observing that some schools have increased school fees by a margin of 100 percent while government is just watching.
Meanwhile, in reaction to the DPP statement, there is a message circulating in various social media platforms that if there’s standard 8 pupils struggling to pay examination fees, let their names and invoice numbers be sent to Mr. Joe Chalera on 0881478676 as soon as possible.
“Let all Standard 8 pupils write their examinations, Mwana aliyense alembe mayeso basi,” reads the message.
The sender of the message is encouraging all to share the information to all schools and anyone concerned as soon as possible before MANEB closes receiving payments.
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