Njedza Primary School in Mulanje District, under the Shire Highlands Education Division, is breaking new ground in inclusive education through the creative integration of tablet-based learning for Special Needs (SN) learners.
Although tablet sessions are not formally scheduled in the resource center timetable, the dedicated staff at Njedza Primary School has found innovative ways to ensure that SN learners benefit from digital learning. During exam periods, when regular classes pause, teachers seize the opportunity to conduct tablet sessions for SN learners, ensuring they are not left behind in the digital revolution.
A particularly touching story from this initiative is that of Mercy Adam, a Standard 2 SN learner who faces challenges in handling heavy objects due to her physical condition. Her maid, Enala Gomani, accompanies her to every session, offering assistance and encouragement.
Enala shares, “Mercy struggles to handle heavy things because of her hand challenges. She also learns better when I’m close to assist her.” This selfless act reflects the power of a supportive community in creating equal learning opportunities for all learners.
Mr. Benjamini Chakhumata Banda, a teacher at the school and a passionate advocate for SN education, applauded the program and suggested: “The tablet sessions for SN learners are rare at the resource center because they aren’t scheduled into the timetable. We only use them on days when the tablets are not in use for other learners in the main school. We need dedicated tablets at the resource center to unlock the full potential of SN learners.
CRECCOM is supporting the Malawi Government, particularly the Ministry of Education, in executing the BEFIT Programme, to enhance foundational literacy and numeracy skills for learners in standards 1-4. The program, led by the government and aided by a consortium including Imagine Worldwide, Onebillion, VSO, JBF Foundation, among others, aims to reach 3.8 million children across 6,000 public primary schools.
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