In The Nation on Sunday of 26th August 2007, it was reported that Honourable Ishmael Chafukira, MP and the Speaker of the National Assembly Honorable Louis Chimango MP were urging the government to abolish University Entrance Examination because the system was corrupt. As they made this claim, they cited the exclusion from first year selection of unnamed students who had scored nine, 13, 14 and 15 point at MSCE. On his part, Honorable Chafukira went as far as claiming that some students who scored up to 40 points have found there way into the University. He did not mention the names of such candidates to substantiate his case. Nevertheless, he went ahead to ask government to abolish University Entrance Examinations without even bothering to find out why they were introduced in the first place.

The University of Malawi wishes to correct the misrepresentations which our two honourable citizens could not have made if only they had cared to check their facts with those of us that deal with selection matters. We are doing this because we are aware of the unwarranted harm the allegations cited above are likely to cause to the image of our University if they are left uncorrected.

To begin with MSCE is not the only criteria the University of Malawi uses to select candidates into the first year. If this were the case, it would not have been necessary to administer the University Entrance Examinations to prospective first years.

Secondly, only candidates with six credits the MSCE one of which is in English Language are allowed to sit for U.E.E. The highest number of points one can get from six credits is also 36 points. Therefore, the maximum points on should score to sit for U.E.E is the 36 points. Consequently, the claim by Honourable Parliamentarian from Lilongwe North West to the effect that we selected people with 40 points above does not hold water at all. Thirdly, University selection is based on a combination of MSCE and University Entrance Examinations. What this means is that the final mark a candidate gets from combining these two components is what determines their standing vis-à-vis selection. In other words, a candidate who scores 14 points at MSCE and performs hopelessly at UEE will be beaten by one who scored 16 points but does very well at UEE. But even after failing to get selected with 14 points, such candidates can re-sit UEE for a maximum of three times if he/she wants to improve chances of getting selected. We have a record of candidates who have done this and have been selected.

Finally, we wish to advise both Honourable Speaker and the Honorable MP for Lilongwe North West to bring before us any evidence which proves that we have not adhered to our own selection rules. Before they have done so, we can only describe their sentiments as unfounded, misleading and most unfortunate. As a University, we feel that we are not making a big request when we ask the tow Honourable gentlemen to learn to verify facts before making statements that can easily harm the reputation of an innocent institution.

University of Malawi
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