Low female MSCE registration worries activist

National examination authorities are expressing worry over the low number of female learners who have registered for this year’s Malawi Schools Certificate of Education (MSCE) exams.

Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) statistics indicate that only 88,191 female candidates have registered for the exams set to run from 2 to 26 July.

About 134,695 have registered for the Primary School Leaving Certificate (PSLCE) while 84,226 have registered for the Junior Certificate of Education (JCE).

Reacting to the development, education activist Ben Navitcha attributes the drop in female candidate numbers to poverty.

He said: “Most of the girls are hindered to progress in their academics beyond Junior Certificate because of poverty.

“If you look at the statistics, you will notice that more girls registered in the PSLCE and JCE exams because they have fewer financial demands.”

Capital FM Online engaged some school leavers who were unable to write their Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations based on various factors.

Marlon Ester Phiri, 19, said she failed to source finances to further her education beyond form 3 because her grandmother was poor.

“I have had challenges in finding financial assistance even from primary school. Luckily, but not quite, I managed to get my JCE. However, continuing with education became blurry” she lamented.

Fiona Padambo is yet another victim of poverty. She told us her only option was to get married and leave school.

“My dreams were crushed because I was unable to pay for my secondary school education. A man was sponsoring my primary school and form one education, he ended up marrying me,” Padambo cried.

Meanwhile, organisations and other well-wishers have stepped up to soften the poverty blow by proving scholarships to needy students.