Deputy Minister of Education, Monica Chang’anamuno, on Friday called upon different partners in the education sector to come forward and assist government in providing resources such as desks, tables and chairs in schools.
She made the call came during the inspection of this year’s Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) examination where she noted that most schools were struggling to provide some materials like desks, tables and even text books.
Chang’anamuno said it was sad to note that in some schools, teachers improvise two chairs, such that they create one as a seat and the other one as a table, for the pupils to ably write their exams, which she said was an unfortunate situation.
She made the call in Balaka at the end of her tour in three districts in the eastern region of Mangochi, Machinga and Balaka where she went to appreciate progress in the 2021-2022 PSLCE examinations.
“I have seen creativity in some schools, whereby pupils were given chairs to use when writing, let me take this opportunity to appeal to stakeholders and individuals to help us with desks in our schools,” she said.
She disclosed that there was need to redesign some classrooms, noting that in some classes learners could take examinations papers close to them so that they could read clearly, simply because there was not enough ventilation in the room.
“There is need also to decongest some of the clusters as many leaners are walking very long distances to go to the examination centre,” she said.
Commenting on the actual exams, Chang’anamuno commended the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) for the job well done as there were irregularities reported during the exam period.
Balaka Chief Education Officer, Ignitius Kameni disclosed that 6,465 learners (3,335 boys and 3,130 girls) sat for the PSLCE examinations in 61 clusters in the district.
