While many implementing schools face challenges such as damaged headsets, tablets, and aux cables during tablet sessions, Nampira School in Molere Zone in Thyolo stands out as a model of excellence in gadget care.
Of the 93 tablets received at Nampira School, only two lost their switch buttons. Out of 93 headsets, only five were damaged, and of 116 aux cables, just five experienced issues. The rest of the equipment remains intact, a testament to the school’s dedication to maintaining resources.
The School's headteacher, Mr. Ganiza Ramses, attributed this success to the commitment of both learners and teachers. “The master teacher ensures that all gadgets are packed in boxes before sessions. Learners pick up the boxes and distribute the gadgets under the supervision of selected students who also assist in making connections. Learners are advised to raise their hands if something isn’t working and are strictly barred from attempting to connect or disconnect devices themselves. At the end of the session, gadgets are left in their designated positions for the next class,” explained Mr. Ramses.
Master teacher Zione Banda highlighted the role of co-facilitation in safeguarding the gadgets. “Co-facilitation ensures that issues requiring reconnections are handled by teachers, which minimizes mishandling. It also instills discipline among learners during tablet sessions,” she said.
Banda added that learners’ excitement about the tablet sessions motivates them to take extra care of the gadgets.
The collaborative approach between teachers and learners at Nampira School has proven effective in minimizing damage to BEFIT resources. “If all schools implementing the BEFIT program adopted a similar spirit of cooperation and discipline, damage to gadgets could be significantly reduced,” noted Mr. Ramses.
Nampira School’s exemplary efforts set a benchmark for other schools, ensuring the sustainability of the BEFIT program and its vision of improving foundational literacy and numeracy for Malawi’s young learners.
BEFIT is an innovative Education Technology (Ed-tech) program implemented by the Ministry of Education through the Directorate of Open Distance and E-learning (DoDEL) and Directorate of Basic Education (DBE) with support from a consortium comprising Imagine Worldwide, VSO, OneBillion and others, to enhance literacy and numeracy skills for learners in Standards 1–4 through the use of tablets. The program aims to reach all 6,000 primary schools in Malawi.
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