HRDC demands resignation of MANEB executive director

Human Rights defenders coalition has asked Malawi National Examinations Board executive director, Jerald Chiunda to step down in five days.
According to a statement, signed by its executive director, Gift Trapence, Chiunda has failed to manage year’s Malawi Schools Certificate of Examinations hence must be fired.
He said if no action is taken at the expiry of five days they will mobilize students to the streets to demand his resignation.

Trapence says Chiunda cannot be trusted to administer another examination.

He says whilst they welcome Government’s decision of calling off the leaked MSCE examination, it is not enough hence calling for a swift and thorough investigation into crisis.

HRDC has since demanded government to provide a thorough report within three weeks from today.

In an interview, HRDC national coordinator Luke Tembo said the crisis is costly and a huge embarrassment to the country adding it is time someone takes responsibility and be held personally liable for such a mess.

“MANEB management has failed miserably in doing its job as evidence by the leakage of the examination and we would want him to step down  to pave way  for further investigation and to allow for someone who has the competence to preside over the examination”, said Tembo.

He said the proposed time frame of re-writing the examination in March 2021 is too long for the candidates hence demanding that the examinations be retaken within the shortest time possible

The human rights body says government should also put in place measures to absorb and cushion the financial burden that guardians and parents are likely going to incur because of this mess.