By Dean Chisambo
Chiradzulu Nyungwe Constituency Member of Parliament McPherson Mwayi Ndalama has appealed to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology to register newly constructed and established secondary schools in his constituency as official examination centres.
Ndalama made the request on Thursday during Question Time in Parliament.
The legislator said that following the introduction of the free secondary education policy, management of the new schools has been uncertain about the process of registering examination centres and how they would source funds to meet the registration requirements.
He expressed satisfaction with the response from the Minister of Education, saying it demonstrated the government’s commitment to resolving the matter.
Ndalama said he would relay the minister’s response to the management and staff of Betman Community Day Secondary School (CDSS), adding that they would be encouraged by the assurance that the issue would be addressed.
He noted that students, teachers and school management had been worried because learners would otherwise be required to travel long distances to sit for their national examinations.
“This will be the first time the school’s students will be sitting for national examinations, and they have been very anxious,” said Ndalama.
“I am pleased to send them a positive message that by the next examination sitting, the school will, hopefully, have been fully registered as an examination centre.”
He added that allowing students to write their examinations at their own school would improve learning conditions and contribute to better examination results.
Responding to the concern, Minister of Education Bright Msaka assured the House that he would personally follow up the matter to ensure that all newly constructed secondary schools that meet the required standards are duly registered as examination centres.
Thursday’s sitting, which was reserved for Private Members’ Day, saw Members of Parliament raising and debating a wide range of issues affecting their constituencies.
