Msalura Community Day Secondary School has recorded a historic academic breakthrough after 32 students were selected to public universities from the 2025 Malawi School Certificate of Education (MSCE) examinations, despite facing shortages of classrooms, desks, and chairs.

The development was disclosed on Thursday during a Parents and Teachers Association (PTA) and Board of Governors (BOG) meeting held at the school in Salima.

Headteacher Sharif Phiri said the results mark a significant improvement in the school’s academic performance, which previously struggled to produce strong MSCE outcomes.

“In fact, we have been gradually progressing. We started from a smaller number, but especially this year we have made a big achievement in that at least 32 of all the students who passed their examinations in the 2025 MSCE have made it to public universities,” he said.

Phiri described the achievement as unprecedented in the school’s history, saying it reflects steady academic improvement.

“This is the first of its kind to happen, so it is really impressive that we are progressing as a school from the situation where our students used not to perform very well to this level where we are talking of sending 32 students to public universities,” he said.

He attributed the performance to discipline among learners, commitment from teachers, and various academic interventions including study circles, scheduled preparation sessions, remedial lessons and make-up classes.

“As a school, we are looking at fostering discipline in our learners because we know for sure that if students are disciplined, performance follows automatically,” said Phiri.

He also highlighted gender performance, saying girls are competing favourably with boys.

He noted that the school’s top performer in the 2025 MSCE examinations was a girl who scored 15 points.

“This is a clear indication that girls are not lagging behind. They are striving just like boys are doing,” he said.

Despite the academic progress, Phiri acknowledged that the school continues to face infrastructure challenges, including shortages of desks, chairs and classrooms.

He also said alumni are constructing a two-classroom block, which has reached roofing level.

On government support, Phiri commended the introduction of free secondary education, saying it has eased financial pressure on parents.

He said the school received over K24 million last term and more than K24.million this term to support teaching and learning activities.

“So far, as a school with the introduction of free secondary education, government has honoured the pledge,” he said.

He added that part of the funds will be used for practical examination fees and a farewell function for graduating students.

Board of Governors (BOG) Chairperson Kingsley Elias Phiri said the board, together with the PTA, supports both teachers and learners to improve performance.

“As the BOG and PTA, we encourage our teachers in the work they are doing. For teachers who perform well, we give them awards or organise small parties where we present them with gifts. We also visit the school to monitor how work is progressing and to motivate both teachers and learners,” he said.

He further revealed that despite the school’s academic progress, infrastructure challenges remain, particularly staff housing.

“The school has teachers’ houses that are worn out because they are very old, from the time when this institution was still called Salima Secondary School. Even the ceilings show cracks, and some houses are in poor condition,” he said.

From the community side, a parent, Nesha Galawanda, welcomed the school’s performance, saying perceptions about Msalura have changed due to the recent results.

“We used to know it in a different way, but now we have seen that Msalura Secondary School is doing very well. If 32 students can be selected to public universities, then it is not a joke,” she said.

She added that the improvement reflects teamwork between teachers and learners.

“The learners have worked very hard, and it also shows that the teachers worked hand in hand to ensure that so many students succeed,” she said.

Galawanda also encouraged learners, especially girls, to work hard, noting that female students are among those selected for university.

She further thanked government for introducing free secondary education, saying it has eased financial burdens on parents, particularly those with multiple children in school.

The school’s performance has been described by stakeholders as a sign of steady academic progress, although concerns over infrastructure gaps remain a key challenge.