Robert Blake Secondary school form 2 and 4 students told to register their exam details at nearest CDSSs

By Chisomo Phiri

Following the fire incident at Robert Blake Secondary School a couple of weeks ago, the Ministry of Education has Form 2 and Form 4 students to register their names for the 2023 exams at their nearest community days secondary schools (CDSSs).

Robert Blake Secondary School in Dowa was closed last month following an unfortunate incident where students are being suspected to have set on fire the school library, two science laboratories, and a chemistry laboratory.

However, the ministry through a letter dated 18th October, 2023 signed by the ministry’s secretary Levis Eneya addressed to the school’s headteacher, says the school will be reopened this coming Monday, 23 October, 2023.

The ministry says only Form One students should report for school on Sunday 22 October, 2023, a decision which has been made to allow the ministry to proceed with investigations into the fire incident.

According to the letter, Form Two and Four students will have to register for the 2023 National Examinations at their nearest Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSSs) as investigations may go beyond registration period of 22 December, 2023.

“Considering the gravity of the matter, I would like to advise that all the Form 1 students should report back to school by Sunday, 22nd October, 2023 so that classes resume on Monday, 23rd October, 2023.

“The Form 2 and 4 students, should be advised to register for the 2023 National Examinations at their nearest Community Day Secondary Schools (CDSSs) as investigations are still underway and may go beyond the examination registration period, which is 22nd December 2023,” reads part of the letter.

The ministry has since requested the school administration to arrange for remedial lessons for the Form 1 students in order to make up for the lost time.