The Malawi National Examination Board (Maneb) has reportedly raised examination fees up to 400 percent in a bid to ease economic constraints incurred when printing and distributing and administering exams papers
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This is according to the Monday’s Daily Time Newspaper which also The Maravi Post has confidently seen the confidential circular stating the hiking of the examination fees dated July 29, 2015 signed by a Mr. Dokotala, Maneb’s Director of Finance.
The memo titled, “2016 Primary School Leaving Certificate Education (PSLCE), Junior Certificate Education (JCE) and Malawi School Certificate Education (MSCE) Examination Fees Increase”, was addressing primary and secondary school head teachers, district education managers, Malawi College of Distance Education (MDCE)’s Principal and Secretary for Education.
In this circular, MSCE’s subject fee is now at MK400 from MK94, entry fee per candidate costs MK650 from MK154, administration fee is MK350 from MK84, and centre fee is now at MK350 from MK84 per candidate while external candidate will require adding form fee which is pegged at MK350 from MK84.
Fees for JCE are the same as those at MSCE level apart from subject fee which costs MK200 from MK49 while examinations for pupils in public primary schools remains free but those from private schools are required to pay MK40 from MK1 that all other related fees are now at MK200 per candidate.
Manfred Ndovie, Ministry of Education, Science and Technology’s Public Relations Officer confirmed the development to The Maravi Post saying despite the increase, government was still subsiding examination fees.
“The examination fees have indeed gone up by 400 percent as printing of examination papers, distribution and administering exams requires a lot of money. As such, the public shouldn’t be scared with the hiking. If you compare examination fees paid for courses, the general public might agree with the ministry that the costs being put forward are still on the lower side”, defends Ndovie
However, Benedicto Kondowe, Civil Society Education Coalition (Csec)’s Executive Director has backed examination costs increment saying would ease financial constraints Maneb was encountering due to low budget allocation gets from treasury .
“Maneb is financially stressing as it get insufficient funding from government. With the increment, some financial challenges facing might be eased but the question remains as whether average Malawians will afford to such fee hiking. This is the reason, wide consultation is need before its implementation based on economic hiccups prevailing in the country now”, suggests Kondowe.
