Malawi has urged African nations to take ownership of the continent’s digital education future, stressing the need for home-grown EdTech solutions that reflect African realities.
Speaking on Tuesday in Kenya at the African EdTech 2030 Vision and Plan Forum organised by the Centre for Mathematics, Science and Technology Education in Africa (CEMASTEA), Minister of Higher Education Jessie Kabwila commended the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) and partners for launching the African EdTech 2030 Vision, Plan and Policy Framework.
She described the initiative as a bold step towards educational transformation.
“We must stop waiting for the world to save us. Africa is young, dynamic, and more than capable of redefining itself through technology and innovation,” said Kabwila.
She further emphasised that EdTech must be tailored to African contexts, incorporating local languages, values, and addressing the day-to-day challenges faced by learners and teachers across the continent.
Drawing on Malawi’s recent progress, she outlined several innovations already making an impact. These include offline science experiments via tablet-based MiLab applications, solar-powered devices in rural schools, teacher training through WhatsApp and e-learning platforms, and the delivery of lessons via radio and mobile phones.
“These are not luxuries they are lifelines,” she remarked.
The minister also outlined Malawi’s ambitious targets of increasing digital access in public schools from 27% to 55% and boosting national electricity coverage from 25% to 70% by 2030.
She further disclosed that Malawi’s digital education strategy centres on three pillars: enhancing foundational learning using tablets and offline content, upskilling teachers in digital tools, and developing locally relevant content in native languages.
These efforts, she noted, will be anchored on “EDUSPACE,” a national digital education platform being rolled out by the Ministry.
Quoting President Dr Lazarus Chakwera’s vision of a “Malawi in the Cloud,” Dr Kabwila argued that equitable digital access could transform education even in the most remote parts of the continent.
She also announced Malawi’s recent entry into the global Digital Public Goods Alliance, which advocates for open, inclusive digital systems, and called on development partners and private sector actors to support long-term, scalable solutions.
“We are not competitors we are partners,” she said.
As Chair of the African Union’s Committee on Education, Science, and Technology, Kabwila assured participants to the symposium of Malawi’s alignment with continental education strategies and urged African countries to harness EdTech to leapfrog outdated systems.
“Let this not be just another talk-shop. Let this be the moment Africa embraces EdTech to shape the future it deserves,” emphasised Kabwila.
In his remarks, the Director of Science, Technology, and Innovation, Associate Professor Chomora Mikeka, said that the event marks a new era in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) for Malawi to track the progress as provided for in the Draft National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy (NSTIP) Monitoring and Evaluation Framework.
He emphasised that the country stands to gain significantly from its active participation in such transformative initiatives, to standardise, harmonise, and mobilise to scale the efforts of Africa as a continent with its partners.
The forum ended with a clear message: Africa must own its digital future. With EdTech at the centre, a connected and innovative continent is within reach.
