By Edgar Naitha
The Civil Society Education Coalition (CSEC) has called on Alfred Gangata, the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) Deputy Regional Governor for the Central Region, to reconsider his planned protest scheduled for Friday, citing concerns over its timing with the ongoing national examinations.
In a statement released to the media, CSEC Director-General Benedicto Kondowe acknowledged the constitutional right of all citizens to protest. However, he emphasized that this right must be exercised responsibly and without infringing on the rights of others—particularly the rights of students currently sitting for their Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations.
“While we recognize the importance of the right to peaceful demonstration, holding protests during a critical examination period poses a serious risk to the integrity and smooth administration of the exams,” said Kondowe. “Such actions could lead to disruptions, cancellation of papers, or even injuries among students.”
Kondowe urged Gangata to reschedule the protest for a later date, after the conclusion of the Form 4 national exams. He added that the educational future of thousands of learners should not be compromised by political or civic actions, no matter how well-intentioned.
CSEC continues to advocate for an education-first approach, especially during national exam periods, and calls on all stakeholders to act in the best interests of Malawi’s learners.