Malawi Union of the Blind cries foul over MANEB Exam results

Mishandling of Malawi Union of the Blind has cried foul over continued mishandling of examination papers for visually impaired students at the Malawi National Examinations board, Maneb.

Addressing reporters on the World Brail week on Monday in Blantyre, union executive director Mr. Ezekiel Kumwenda said despite several meetings with MANEB officials on the problem, visually impaired candidates often end up having their papers nullified and their grades missing because they use brail.

When contacted, Maneb board director of research and test Mr. Gerard Chiunda said sometimes the board fails to grade such candidates accordingly, if their schools, do not indicate that they have special needs candidates.

Mrs. Florence Donda, a primary school teacher at South Lunzu in Machinjiri Blantyre is one concerned 2012 Malawi School certificate examinations candidate who is yet to access her Social Development Studies results.

“This is my second time Maneb has failed to release my results since 2011. I am really frustrated with this,” explained Mrs. Donda.

Brail proof reader for Montfort Special Needs College, Mr. Grivin Machaka is another victim, who claims Maneb has not released his Agriculture examination paper results for the 2012 MSCE exams.

“After several unfruitful attempts to inquire from the examination board, I have decided to give up on the matter, I do not have courage to continue writing MSCE exams,” lamented Machaka.

Briefing journalists in Blantyre on the World Brail week on Monday, Malawi Union of the Blind executive director Mr. Ezekiel Kumwenda said this is one challenge which is fueling illiteracy among the visually impaired youth in the country.

The World Brail week, started from January 4 and will end on January 11 under the theme Brail is Knowledge, Knowledge is power.