By Wendy Mkandawire
Education expert Crown Mbewe has called on the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) to review the K70,000 fee for remarking Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) papers, saying that the amount infringes on the right to education.
Mbewe made the remarks during an interview Thursday, following MANEB’s release of this year’s JCE results
Mbewe said the new fee places a huge burden on students and parents, noting that many learners cannot afford K70,000 per paper. He argued that charging such a high amount effectively restricts access to remarking and only allows a few to appeal their results.
According to Mbewe imposing a high amount for the remarking fee is an indirect violation of individual rights, citing that only a few will afford the service.
He said MANEB should recognize that errors can occur during the initial marking process, which is why students must have access to appeal.
He also started that many students often receive better grades after a remark, which shows that mistakes are made during the first marking.
Mbewe has asked MANEB and the Ministry of Education to intervene and reduce the fee to allow all students fair access to remarking without infringing on their rights.
MANEB has set the remarking fee at K70,000 per paper for 2026, up from K45,000 per paper in 2025.
