A pupil’s religious beliefs could stand in the way of her academic future, raising fresh questions about whether Malawi’s education system makes room for children whose faith conflicts with school requirements.
The Eastern Malawi Conference of Seventh-day Adventists says Calista Thomas was reportedly denied registration for the Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination (PSLCE) because she observes Saturday as the Sabbath.
The church argues that Calista should not have to choose between her faith and her right to education.
For Seventh-day Adventists, Saturday is a sacred day reserved for worship, spiritual fellowship and service to God. The church says schools and examination authorities should accommodate such beliefs where reasonably possible.
The dispute has now brought constitutional rights into focus, particularly the balance between religious freedom and access to education.
Section 33 of Malawi’s Constitution protects freedom of conscience, religion, belief and thought. Section 25 guarantees the right to education, while Section 20 prohibits discrimination, including on religious grounds.
The church has also cited a 2023 High Court ruling involving Rastafarian children whose dreadlocks had been a barrier to attending government schools.
In that case, the court found that a policy requiring the children to cut their dreadlocks violated their rights relating to religion, education and equality.
The church says the ruling highlights the need for authorities to consider reasonable accommodation when school requirements conflict with sincerely held religious beliefs.
However, the central question in Calista’s case is whether any law, regulation or examination rule allows authorities to deny an otherwise eligible pupil registration because she observes the Sabbath.
The church says that if no such requirement exists, the decision should be reconsidered.
Beyond the legal arguments, the dispute carries consequences for a pupil whose opportunity to sit a national examination could be affected by her religious observance.
The church is calling on education and examination authorities to establish what happened and find a lawful solution that protects Calista’s academic future without forcing her to abandon her religious convictions.
