DIGITAL LEARNING
On a cloudy Monday morning, Standard Four learners at Mwandama Primary School in Zomba queue outside a classroom washing their hands and taking off their shoes before stepping in.
Once inside, they sit on a mat as teachers place tablets and headphones in front of each row until each learner holds one.
Then screens light up in the classroom supported by Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (Befit) programme.
Each school day, over 680 000 pupils in over 1 000 primary schools nationwide spend at least 30 minutes in digital learning spaces dubbed Befit classes.
With each tap on a tablet, teachers take learners through numeracy and literacy tasks aligned with the national school curriculum, complementing conventional classes.
They solve mathematics, identify patterns, read stories and play educational games.
This has transformed Aisha James’ classroom experience.
“The Befit classes make learning fun,” says the Standard Four girl.
Owen Kupila, a Standard Two pupil at Bereu Primary School in Chikwawa, says he never wants to miss classes.
“I now find mathematics easy to understand and the tablet gives me stars whenever I am correct,” she states.
At Mountain View School for Children with hearing impairments in Thyolo, learners with special needs interact with questions that come in the form of pictures and patterns.
For tasks with audio instructions, learners rely on teachers to translate the instructions into sign language.
Befit is a government initiative to improve literacy and numeracy skills of over 3.8 million learners in Standards One to Four in 6 000 primary schools.
It is supported by Imagine Worldwide, Onebillion, Voluntary Service Overseas and Global Partnership for Education.
The schools get tablets and solar power systems while teachers receive information and communications technology training to facilitate classes effectively.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology reports that only 19 percent of children aged seven to 14 can effectively read Chichewa or English, while 13 percent demonstrate foundational numeracy skills.
The National Education Sector Investment Plan prioritises improving the quality and relevance of teaching and learning in primary schools.
Joyce Peterson, whose child attends Bereu Primary School in Chikwawa, says her ward is enthusiastic to attend classes because of the digital learning initiative.
At Namicheni Primary School in the district, Susan Gadi, says her child’s numeracy and literacy skills are improving following the rollout of the Befit programme.
Thyolo principal education officer Wallace Govati says learners at Mountain View engage effectively with the contents because most concepts are presented through words, pictures and patterns.
“For lessons that include verbal instructions, teachers translate them into sign language for the learners,” he says.
Head teacher Mary Machemba commends the programme for exposing learners to digital technology and motivates them to attend classes.
She, however, recommends that the tablets should include sign language instructions for learners with hearing impairments to follow lessons without assistance.
Namicheni Primary School headteacher George Batson also reports reduced absenteeism that he attributes to learners’ excitement about using tablets.
Blantyre Prison Reformatory School education coordinator Alobine Kamlangira says tablets have helped learners to grab some numeracy concepts more easily.
Creative Centre for Community Mobilisation (Creccom) is implementing the programme in 119 schools.
“We have seen in the schools that we are working with that learners are getting numeracy and literacy skills,” says Creccom executive director Alinafe Chibwana.
Edukans programmes manager Patrick Maele says the initiative has enhanced collaboration between communities and teachers, creating a shared commitment to improving learning outcomes for young children.
For learners like Aisha and Owen, the programme has become a doorway to understanding, confidence and joy in learning.
By combining technology, teacher support and community involvement, the programme offers a glimpse of how innovation can strengthen the foundations of learning nationwide.
AYOBE
