M’Mbelwa District Council director of education, youth and sports Bridget Ndau Nungu has commended an education innovation in Mzimba District which is improving basic education in primary schools.
Malawi Government introduced the Building Education Foundations through Innovations and Technology (Befit) programme in 2023 to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy skills among primary school learners from Standard One to Standard Four through the use of Android tablets.
Ndau-Nungu said this on Friday during an open day that Ulalo Organisation conducted at Bumbunyika Primary School at Jenda Trading Centre to showcase the learning technology.
She said: “This programme is crucial because the use of android tablets in lower classes is motivating pupils and also ensures they learn how to read, write and solve mathematics problems at a tender age.
“We are impressed with the the programme’s impact in the district and we commend government for coming up with such innovation in education to ensure we grow children who are exposed to the world of technology.”
Ndau-Nungu urged communities, parents and teachers to own the programme and take care of the gadgets.
On his part, Ulalo Organisation executive director James Gondwe, whose organisation is an implementing partner, said they have reached 99 primary schools in Mzimba South but they target all schools by 2029.
“The tablets are programmed with lessons which learners follow in accordance with primary school education syllabus. We have trained teachers and school committees on how to fix the gadgets,” he said.
Ethel Nthala, a Standard Four learner at the school, said apart from learning how to write, read and solve mathematics, the gargets have also exposed them to technology.
Befit programme is expected to reach 6 000 primary schools nationwide by 2029
