In a defensive move to those against reforms in abolition of Junior Certificate Education (JCE), Malawi government intends to replace JCE with cluster examination system with emphasis on acquisition of knowledge, skills, values and positive attitude.
This development comes amid heavy criticism from the general public against government decision to abolish conducting of JCE exams, speculating the move based on the current economic challenges than educational which the authority has vehemently denied.
Addressing the news conference on Thursday, October 8 in the capital Lilongwe, Dr Emmanuel Fabiano Minster of Education, Science and Technology hinted that abolition of JCE exams was part of the ongoing Public Reforms Programme and in line with National Education Standards which focus on continuous assessment.
“It should be understood that the only reason we send children to school is for them to learn and acquire the knowledge, skills, values and attitudes as set out in the curriculum. Examinations are part of the learning process but are not the main objective of education.
“The ministry would like to promote the practice of continuous assessment from 1 through to form 4 in order for schools to thoroughly cover the curriculum as opposed to the current practice which is to great extent, examination oriented as both students and teachers focus on JCE examination results rather acquisition of knowledge, skills, values and positive attitudes as most of term 3 of form 2 is spent on preparing for JCE examinations and not learning for understanding.
“Therefore, in order to promote continuous assessment, the ministry plans to strengthen the cluster examination system which will be used as part of secondary school teacher development activity and students learning hubs in line with the plans of the ministry which intends to resource these cluster centres than the case currently.
“Cluster management teams shall be responsible for setting and marking cluster based examinations within each cluster such that instead of having JCE exams, students will sit for cluster exams with secondary school full responsibility to encourage learners that are struggling with their studies in form1 , 2 and 3 to benefit from remedial classes or repeat the year before proceeding to the next class”, outlines Dr. Fabiano who franked by his deputy Gambi, Principal Secretary Margareta and Maneb officials.
The minister acknowledged the public concerns on the removal of JCE exams might negatively affect learning in schools because student would relax before are required to sit for Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) exams saying the ministry will do everything possible to make the reforms viable as the current JCE exams phases
out in 2016/2017 academic year calendar.
Dr. Fabiano said it was a responsibility of government to make sure that students remain in school until they complete form 4 when they will seat for MSCE exams by awarding successful candidates with an MSCE certificate while failures are to be offered certificate of
completion as recognition that they go through and complete secondary education.
“Students will have the opportunity to remain in school from form 1 to 4 without hindrance which period it’s expected with full acquisition of useful knowledge and skills of up to the level of senior secondary education.
“National examinations are used for certification, selection and placement. Previously, due to insufficient places in form 3, the JCE exams was being used for selection of high performing students in the exam to take up form 3 places of students who had failed the exam in national secondary school which currently isn’t (JCE) used for that purpose.
“Further, employers including government have set the MSCE as a minimum entry qualification for employment as a result JCE no longer serves it certification purpose while government was spending a lot of money to administer examination.
“Since it’s clear that the examination has lost all three purposes for which examinations are administered, government shall redirect the financial resources to other productive areas”, defenses Dr. Fabiano.
