Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has refuted allegations that it has authorized and mandated a new private Examinations Council known as National Independent Academic Examinations Council to work with the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB).

According to the statement released by the Ministry, there are allegations that the council will be issuing Primary School Leaving Certificates and administering Junior Certificate of Education Examinations.

The Ministry says the information published by Nation Newspaper of Tuesday, 17th May, 2016 is misleading to the general public.

“The general public is hereby informed that at no point in time has this so called National Independent Academic Examinations Council engaged the Ministry to obtain the mandate they are claiming to have obtained to work with MANEB on issues of examinations and certification.

“In as far as the Ministry is concerned, the reforms surrounding the issuing of Primary School Leaving Certificates and abolition of Junior Certificate of Education remain as previously communicated to the general public in 2015,” reads in part the statement.

Added the statement: “The Ministry would therefore like to caution the general public to tread carefully as they deal with this so called National Independent Academic Examinations Council.”