Govt blasted for abolishing PSLCE & JCE

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Malawi exams

Roman Catholic Bishops in Malawi have blasted government for abolishing Primary School Leaving Certificate Examinations (PSLCE) and Junior Certificate Examinations (JCE).

In a pastoral Statement released by of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM), the bishops also claim that they have been pointing out many times that education standards are going down in public schools but government has failed to act.

Malawi exams
Abolishing of JCE and PSLCE not good. (Library)

Last year in September, government decided to do away with PSLCE and JCE saying the two papers have lost value and the examinations are too expensive to administer.

However, the bishops have argued that no country can achieve any meaningful development without investment in education.

The bishops said: “We are concerned about the possible impact of the abolition of Standard 8 and Junior Certificate examinations.

“We wish there were wider discussions and consultations before such a decision was made.

“This could dispel fears people have that the government only wanted to do away with Standard 8 and Junior Certificate exams for economic expediency and not raising the standards of education.”

The bishops have also blamed government for overcrowded classrooms, lack of teaching materials, shortage of teachers, and ill-equipped laboratories and libraries in schools across the country.