As debate continues on the move taken by President Professor Arthur Peter Mutharika’s administration to abolish Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) Examination, Malawi National Examination Board (MANEB) has said 2015/16 JCE students will be the last cohort to write the exams.

Mutharika abolished approved the abolishment of the JCE Examinations as part of reforms the government is undertaking in the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and other Statutory Corporation.

According to Mutharika, the abolishment of JCE examinations has been done to save cost anchored by the government in administering the Examinations across the country.

The development raised commotion among Malawians as it was not clear as to when the abolishment will be effected as the announcement came while the 2015/16 academic year was already in progress.

In a statement released by MANEB Public Relations Officer (PRO) Simeon Maganga made available to FaceofMalawi and also posted on the board’s official Facebook, said the abolishment is with effect from 2016/2017 academic year.

“JCE examination phased out with effect from 2016/2017 academic year.

“Current form two’s will be the last cohort to write JCE exam,” reads the statement in brief.

Meanwhile Malawians have expressed concern over the abolishment of the Examinations, saying this will negatively affect the quality of education in the country.