Northern Education Division (NED) has appealed for financial and technical assistance to scale-up the Building Education Foundation for Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) Programme.
Sam Tembo, Chief Education Quality Assurance Officer for NED, emphasised the need for additional support to expand the initiative to all primary schools in Malawi.
“Currently, only a fraction of learners from 48 out of 290 schools in Mzimba are benefitting from the programme,” he said.
BEFIT was launched in 2023 and aims at enhancing numeracy and literacy skills among primary school learners through innovative technology.
It was done in partnership with the government of Malawi and organisations like Ulalo and utilises Android tablets with an installed application to facilitate learning.
Aaron Manda, an official from Ulalo, reported that the organisation is currently reaching 99 schools in Mzimba South and North.
“Ulalo is providing training for teachers, engaging community members, and offering technical support to ensure the programme’s success,” stated Manda.
Holera Primary School has seen an improvement in pass rates since the programme’s inception in September last year, rising from 86% to 93%.
The school’s Headteacher, Ziyisa Munthali, believes that with full implementation, the school can achieve a 100% pass rate in all classes.
BEFIT programme is expected to reach its full potential by 2029, covering over 6,000 schools across Malawi.
By Hassan Phiri
