By Wadza Botomani
The Minister of Basic and Secondary Education, Honourable Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima, has expressed overwhelming satisfaction with the administration of the 2025 Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) examinations, describing the process as “smooth, credible, and incident-free.” Her remarks came during the official closing ceremony in Lilongwe, where she commended the collaborative efforts of stakeholders, including teachers, invigilators, security agencies, and the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) .
**Stakeholder Collaboration Praised**
Minister Wirima highlighted the seamless execution of the exams, which ran from 3rd to 12th June 2025, attributing the success to stringent planning and adherence to protocols. “The inspection went well from the beginning to the final day. I appreciate all stakeholders for their professionalism, as no malpractice or disruptions were reported,” she stated, singling out MANEB for its role in ensuring secure and timely distribution of materials .
Record Participation and Gender Parity
A total of 166,123 candidates sat for the 2025 JCE examinations, with female students (85,902) continuing to outnumber males (80,221) — a trend reflecting Malawi’s progress in girl-child education initiatives . Civil society groups, including the Civil Society Education Coalition, applauded the rise in female participation, linking it to targeted policies and community awareness campaigns .
Lessons for Upcoming MSCE
Looking ahead, Wirima urged stakeholders to replicate the JCE’s success during the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations scheduled for July 2025. She emphasized discipline among students, vigilance by invigilators, and continued cooperation with security forces to maintain integrity . The Minister also noted that adequate resources had been allocated to prevent marker strikes, a recurring issue in previous years .
Challenges and Resolutions
While the exams were largely praised, minor concerns emerged, such as a reported omission of a linear scale in the Geography paper, which teachers flagged as problematic for distance calculations . The Ministry assured that such feedback would inform future improvements. Additionally, the decision to proceed with exams on Eid Ul Adha drew mixed reactions, though the government maintained the schedule to uphold academic timelines .
Conclusion
The 2025 JCE examinations have set a benchmark for national assessments, with Minister Wirima’s commendations underscoring Malawi’s commitment to credible and inclusive education. As the country gears up for the MSCE, stakeholders remain optimistic that the same rigor and collaboration will prevail.
