By Burnett Munthali
Maranatha Academy Managing Director Ernest Kaonga has challenged teachers, headteachers and school administrators to support learners who want their examination results reviewed, saying remarking can correct grades and transform students’ academic prospects.
Speaking at a press conference in Lilongwe on Sunday, November 15, 2026, Kaonga urged schools to stop discouraging learners from questioning results they believe do not reflect their actual performance.
He said teachers and school administrators should encourage students to pursue legitimate reviews instead of allowing fear, uncertainty or misconceptions about the process to prevent them from seeking answers.
“Schools should not discourage learners from seeking remarking when they believe their results do not reflect their performance,” Kaonga said, emphasising that students deserve an opportunity to have disputed grades reviewed.
He pointed to the experience of a girl from one of Maranatha Academy’s campuses whose examination score improved from 10 points to eight points after remarking.
Kaonga described the improvement as particularly encouraging because the country’s best examination score was nine points, meaning the student’s revised eight-point result placed her ahead of that benchmark.
The learner improved her grades in subjects including Chemistry and Religious Studies, demonstrating how a review can affect a student’s overall performance and academic prospects.
The improvement also highlights the importance of examining disputed results rather than assuming that the initial grades always provide an accurate reflection of a learner’s performance.
Kaonga further challenged the perception that examination remarking is a privilege reserved for wealthy families, arguing that the process remains accessible to many learners and should not discourage students who have legitimate concerns about their grades.
However, the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) sets specific fees and conditions for remarking. Its official 2026 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) remarking form lists a fee of K70,000 per subject and states that the payment is non-refundable. The application deadline for that examination cycle was October 8, 2026.
The debate comes against the background of the 2026 MSCE results, which MANEB said produced 111,510 successful candidates out of 188,169 who sat the examinations, representing a national pass rate of 59.26 percent.
A report by the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation published on November 14, 2026, also highlighted Maranatha Academy’s strong performance, identifying Ruth Kanduku as the school’s top-performing student after she obtained eight points following remarking.
The report further identified Nellie Ntiza, Ishmael Chitedze and Joyce Ndhovu as other high-performing learners, each securing nine points. The academy announced a K10 million award for Kanduku and K5 million for each of the three other students.
Kaonga’s message puts the spotlight on the responsibility of schools to protect learners’ academic interests by helping them understand examination procedures and available review mechanisms.
While remarking does not guarantee an improved grade, students who have reasonable grounds to question their results should receive accurate information about the process, applicable fees and deadlines.
For learners whose opportunities for university admission, scholarships and professional advancement may depend on their examination performance, a fair review can make a significant difference.
Kaonga wants schools to treat examination remarking as a legitimate avenue for seeking accuracy and fairness, rather than discouraging learners from pursuing a review when they believe their results deserve a second look.
