Ecobank Malawi says Artificial Intelligence has the potential of transforming education in rural areas.
The company’s Executive Director, Weluzani Chingota made the remarks while the bank donated Artificial Intelligence supported learning materials to Madziabango Primary School worth K35 million in the Shire Valley as a partnership with Ministry of Education’s Building Education Foundations through Innovation & Technology (BEFIT) programme.
The equipment includes 107 tablets with headphones, a 7.5Kwh solar power installation, a Wi-Fi router, and other ICT accessories, as well as 40 desks and the painting of a school block.
The donation is part of Ecobank Malawi celebration of Ecobank Day under the theme Ignite Learning with AI which falls in the Transforming Africa through Education campaign.
Chingota said equipping Malawi’s children with foundational literacy, numeracy, and digital skills is critical to their future success.
“By leveraging AI and technology in education, we are not only ensuring that these children thrive in school, but also laying the groundwork for their role in Malawi’s broader digital economy,” he said.
According to Chingota, the initiative will help bridge the digital divide, giving students from underserved communities the opportunity to participate in the rapidly evolving digital world.
Secretary for Education in the line ministry, Mangani Katundu said with the digital tools, most disadvantaged learners in a remote area like Madziabango will have access to quality educational content delivered right at their fingertips.
“Technology allows us to bridge gaps that were previously thought unbridgeable. Through these tablets and related accessories, we are giving our children the ability to engage in fun-filled, interactive and stimulating learning experiences,” Katundu said.
Imagine Worldwide are technical partners of BEFIT and its Director of Technical Services, Tadala Trisizani indicated the tools allow for individualised instruction, tailoring lessons to the pace and level of each student, addressing variations in teacher quality, and ensuring students receive the targeted support they need.
“Generative AI also plays a crucial role in content production, making it affordable and efficient. Instead of traditional methods that require significant investment, AI enables us to generate personalized content quickly, ensuring high-quality learning materials are always available,” Tsirizani said.
The day’s activities at Madziabango Primary School included a digital literacy session conducted by Ecobank staff, where students interacted with the AI-enabled tablets.
As part of the activities, a live classroom demo showcased how the tablets could be used to enhance literacy and numeracy skills, providing teachers and students with practical examples of how to integrate digital tools into daily lessons on top of a performance.