The Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB), in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, has released the 2026 Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) and Junior Certificate of Education (JCE) examination results, with both examinations recording pass rates of more than 80 per cent.
According to a press release dated 15 August 2026, a total of 245,048 candidates sat for the PSLCE examination. Of these, 198,903 candidates passed, representing an overall pass rate of 81.17 per cent.
To qualify for the PSLCE certificate, candidates are required to obtain passes in at least five subjects, including English.
The results, however, reveal a gender disparity in performance at primary school level. Of the 118,511 male candidates who sat for the examination, 101,548 passed, representing a pass rate of 85.69 per cent.
Among female candidates, 97,355 out of 126,537 passed, giving a pass rate of 76.94 per cent.
In Special Needs Education, 1,949 out of 2,726 candidates passed the PSLCE examination, representing a 71.50 per cent pass rate.
While the performance reflects progress in inclusive education, it also points to the need for continued investment and targeted support for learners with special educational needs.
At JCE level, MANEB reported that 125,777 out of 154,880 candidates passed, translating into an overall pass rate of 81.21 per cent.
Candidates were required to obtain passes in at least six subjects, including English, to qualify for the JCE certificate.
Male candidates again outperformed their female counterparts. Of the 75,888 male candidates who sat for the examination, 63,774 passed, representing 84.04 per cent. Among female candidates, 62,003 out of 78,992 passed, giving a pass rate of 78.49 per cent.
Performance among learners with special educational needs at JCE level was comparatively strong, with 806 out of 978 candidates passing, representing an 82.41 per cent pass rate.
Internal candidates also recorded a strong performance, with 103,438 out of 115,977 candidates passing, translating into a pass rate of 89.19 per cent.
National secondary schools registered the highest performance among the reported categories, with 3,855 out of 4,229 candidates passing, representing a pass rate of 91.16 per cent.
However, the results also highlight significant disparities among different categories of candidates. External candidates recorded a pass rate of 62.62 per cent, with 7,558 out of 12,070 candidates passing. Open and Distance Learning (ODL) candidates recorded an even lower pass rate of 55.09 per cent, with 14,781 out of 26,833 candidates passing.
The results therefore present a mixed picture: while the overall national pass rates remain above 80 per cent, the differences in performance by gender, candidate category and mode of learning point to areas requiring greater attention.
MANEB has urged education stakeholders to continue supporting learners across all categories to address performance gaps and improve learning outcomes.
The 2026 results provide important insights into Malawi’s education system, highlighting both encouraging levels of achievement and the need for sustained efforts to ensure that every learner has an equal opportunity to succeed.
