Minister of Education, Agnes Nyalonje made the admission Monday during the announcement of PSLCE results and details on the re-sitting of Malawi School Certificate Education (MSCE) examinations at Bingu International Convention Centre (BICC) in Lilongwe.
She said students have on average obtained lower pass rates than other students.
Nyalonje said out of 1,997 SNE who sat for this examination, 1,382 have passed representing 69.20 percent pass rate.
The Minister added the Ministry has prioritized procurement of SNE teachers both at Montfort and Machinga Teacher Teaching Colleges (TTCs).
Nyalonje said the Ministry was reinforcing the construction of SNE friendly school infrastructure such that all new built and renovated must comply with SNE friendly infrastructure guidelines.
“Our Directorate of Inclusive Education is extending capacity building to generic teachers so that they are able to identify and support learners with specials needs,” she explained.
The Minister said 225, 387 students passed 2020 PSLCE examinations, a total of 84,941 candidates have been selected to start form one in various secondary schools.
“This represents 37.73 percent of those who passed the examination. This means 140, 440 eligible students have been left out,” she said.
Nyalonje observed. She said this was due to severe shortage of selected school spaces.
“It is for this reason, my Ministry has made construction of additional secondary schools a top priority,” she pointed out.
The Minister said to double the transition rate from 37.73 percent to 76 percent, there was need to have 949 secondary schools which translates into 11,383 classrooms and 5,694 classroom blocks.
Nyalonje said the cost stand at K 3 billion per school, and this comes to K2.85 trillion and the construction of these schools across a five-year period would require K 569 billion per year.
She said 250 United States Agency for International Development (USAID) supported secondary schools programme would create 1,000 classrooms by 2023.
“Currently, 44 of these schools have been completed and by the end of 2021 an additional 40 schools will be completed,” she estimated.
Malawi National Examination Board (MANEB, Board Chair, Prof Al Mtenje commended MANEB management for working tirelessly in releasing PSCLE results amidst of preparation of the administration of 2020 MSCE examination.
He said 2020 PSLCE results have been approved by MANEB Board and they were scrutinized and verified as credible.
(Mana)
