Update: As the Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) continues administering the Primary School Leaving Certificate Examination (PSLCE), two young female candidates in Mulanje District gave birth while the exams were in progress, according to Nyasa Times. The students were able to continue writing their exams from the maternity wards. Following the incident, Mulanje District Commissioner Chriss Nawata ordered the immediate arrest of the men responsible for impregnating the schoolgirls.
In higher education, the National Bank of Malawi (NBM) plc has extended its Mo Excellence Programme to Mzuzu University (Mzuni) and the Lilongwe University of Agriculture and Natural Resources (LUANAR), as reported by Nyasa Times. The bank awarded K1.7 million scholarships to 57 university students requiring financial support to cover tuition, accommodation, and educational materials. The top five performing students at Mzuni also received an additional K1 million as a reward for academic achievement. NBM plc Board Director Bessie Nyirenda stated the bank expanded the programme to assist the government in preparing a skilled future workforce.
Meanwhile, LUANAR has partnered with the Embassy of Iceland and the GRÓ Gender Equality Studies and Training Programme to offer a blended learning course focused on human rights advocacy, according to fundsforNGOs. The programme aims to help professionals develop practical plans to prevent violence and promote gender equality in Malawi. Participants will be eligible for a $6,000 seed funding grant to support the most effective community advocacy initiative.
Additionally, a new music education project funded by the Bad Axe Rotary Club and Rotary International has successfully concluded in Lilongwe, as reported by the Huron County View. The initiative provided keyboards, amplifiers, and formal music instruction to more than 200 youths and adults near St. Anthony's Parish. Project organizers noted that the acquired skills could offer future income opportunities while strengthening community relationships.