Government has extended the deadline for payment of fees for different Malawi National Examinations Board (MANEB) examinations to March 31, 2022.

Making the announcement in Parliament, Minister of Education Agnes NyaLonje said the extension follows different considerations that parents and guardians are sailing through serious economic challenges.

“The extension of the period for payment of fees for the different national examinations managed by Maneb is intended to assist those parents and guardians.

“That have not been able to pay for their charges up to this point we recognise that. A lot of parents and a lot of pressure for different reasons.

“The country is just experienced a massive cyclone Anna and various other issues,” NyaLonje said.

The Board earlier set March 11 as deadline for online registration and March 12 as closing date for examination fees epayments.

NyaLonje has also cautioned all school authorities who are involved in mishandling the fees that they will face the law.

She said: “Anybody who takes that and designs to put other charges over and above that, that is clearly breaking the law.

“Stealing from Malawians and beyond this stealing what is actually worse is that with that, it’s stopping a lot of young people, especially from poorer backgrounds.”

MANEB will start administering this year’s examination on July 13 starting with the Primary School Leaving Certificate of Education (PSLCE) .