MANEB launches e-registration, e-payment system

Malawi: Deputy Minister of Education Monica Chang'anamuno says the MANEB e-registration and e-payment system is a watershed moment in history because it will help to address concerns about the safety of public resources.

She stated this during the lunch of the nationwide electronic registration of candidates for PSLCE, JCE, and MSCE examinations and online payment of examination fees on October 12, 2022, in Lilongwe.

"We launched the MANEB e-registration and e-payment system for education fees for the entire country today. There will be no more issues with fraud. For example, in the past, some students were able to pay their fees, but some principals refused to pay the money to MANEB,” she elaborated.

Prof. Dorothy Nampota, Executive Director of MANEB, said that the use of excel-sheets presented numerous challenges that were affecting their operations in a variety of ways, including delays in having stable data that they used to determine how many copies of examination papers to print and revenue loss due to embezzled examination fees.

"We had a number of challenges, such as so many errors because it was done manually, some schools embezzling examination fees after collecting them from candidates, and incorrect candidate details such as name spelling, gender, and incorrect subject choices, to name a few," she explained.

She went on to say that the new system will allow schools to correct errors in candidates' personal information in real-time, as opposed to the current practice of schools writing to MANEB and requesting amendments.

"Because examination fees will be paid directly to MANEB, there will be greater transparency and accountability in their collection. This will aid in the proper planning and implementation of MANEB examination-related activities,” Nampota elaborated.

The MANEB BOARD CHAIRPERSON, Prof Samson Sajidu, stated that direct payment of examination fees to MANEB via e-payment platforms is a significant step toward securing public funds for improving MANEB's public service delivery.

"The board will ensure that the secured public resources are properly channelled toward improving MANEB's operations in order to provide better service to the public," he said.

Online registration for the 2023 MANEB examination will be available from October 12th to December 16th, 2022, with payment platforms including National Bank, NBS Bank, FDH Bank, Airtel Money, and TNM Mpamba.

The journey began in 2016 with MANEB's Strategic Plan.

The e-registration and e-payment initiative began in 2021 in a phased approach, and it is now being rolled out across the country in 2022/2023.