Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) has refuted allegations that Muslim girls are being denied access to sit for the Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations while wearing hijab.

Recently, the media reported that a female Muslim candidate was denied entry into the examination room at Kabwabwa examination center, in the city of Lilongwe, after she refused to remove her head gear.

The reports did not go well with the Muslim Association of Malawi (MAM) and the spokesperson for the body, Dinala Chabulika, condemned the practice while calling on MANEB to act on the matter.

However MANEB Spokesperson, Mayamiko Chiwaya, confirmed receiving the complaints but refuted the allegations.

Chiwaya said: “Upon our investigations we have found that the issue was not about the hijab, but the truth of the matter is that the candidate was refusing to be searched as per our requirement.”

She further clarified that after the officers spoke to the candidate, she later complied.

“After the candidate was reminded about the code of conduct she accepted to be searched and went on to write the examination,” said Chiwaya.

MSCE examinations commenced on June 21.