As one way of increasing access to and inclusive use of the internet, the Malawi Government through the E-Government under Digital Malawi Acceleration Project (DMAP) plans to connect 2000 schools in the country in the second phase of the project.
ICT Officer in the Ministry of Information and Digitalisation, under the Department of E-Government, Jane Kwalimba disclosed this on Monday in Chitipa District during a District Executive Committee meeting.
She said the 2000 schools will be connected through the Malawi Research and Education Network (MAREN).
“Under the Digital Malawi Acceleration Project, an additional 500 institutions will be targeted. This is to improve government efficiency, resilience and ability to sustain operations even in the face of natural disasters,” Kwalimba said.
Kwalimba said that in phase 1, 80 higher education institutions were connected and around 530 institutions were connected.
Director of Administration for Chitipa District Council, Clement Gonthi, said as countries were living in the digital era, the project is very important.
“We have been told that 12 more sites in Chitipa district will be connected in the 2nd phase of the project. This is good news because it is going to enhance public participation in government affairs as well as access to government services because the internet connection is going to be used by citizens to access government services,” Gonthi said.
By Aliko Munde, MANA
