Govt wants to introduce ICT in public schools
Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) says it is reviewing the curriculum to incorporate information and communications technology (ICT) in public primary and secondary schools.
The move is part of efforts to promote use of computer-based technology for purposes of creating a digital economy.
MIE director for curriculum development Austin Kalambo confirmed the review process in an interview, saying they have extensive literature review on digitisation, curricula survey on digitisation and study visits to Kenya and Rwanda to draw lessons.
He said: “It is a highly focused field that we are working on. Now we are at an advanced stage of digitilisation in terms of curricula review.
“We are writing the final report and from there we will be able to bring the curricula for a symposium to tell the nation what we have found out so that they can ably advise on what direction we should take”.
Kalambo said MIE is working with Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (Macra), Ministry of Information and Digitisation and other stakeholders.
Both Macra director general Daud Suleman and Ministry of Education spokesperson Mphatso Nkuonera confirmed the development, but said MIE as an authority responsible for curriculum review has more information.
According to Kalambo the expectation in primary schools is that pupils will be able to develop digital literacy skills; use ICT for learning.
He said the arrangement will also apply in secondary school at an advanced level that will include software development and programming.