The 2012 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examination started on Wednesday across the country with over 130, 000 candidates sitting for the exams.

This represents a 30 percent increase from last year where over 99, 000 candidates sat for the secondary school final examinations.

Spokesperson of the Malawi National Examinations Board- MANEB Gerald Chiunda told Capital Radio that all is set for the Exams so far.

Chiunda has since warned Students intending to cheat that the law will take its course.

Said Chiunda: “As MANEB we have the police and other stakeholders to our side and therefore we will arrest all those who would cheat during this year’s examinations.

“MANEB has intensified efforts to curb cheating and other examination related malpractices this year.”

102,691 candidates sat for the exams in 2011 and 56, 273 candidates of them passed representing a 54.8 percent.

Last year’s pass rate was slightly better than 2010 by at least one percent.