Officials from Teaching at the Right Level (TaRL) Africa, Vikas Varma and Chavi Jain, recently embarked on a familiarisation tour to visit schools in Zomba that are implementing the Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) program. The visit included stops at Chikamveka Primary School and Mpotola Primary School, where they observed the program in action, interacting with learners and educators to understand its impact.
BEFIT is a Malawi government-led initiative implemented by a consortium of partners, including Imagine Worldwide, Onebillion, VSO, and the JBF Foundation. The program aims to reach 3.8 million children across 6,000 public primary schools in Malawi, targeting Standard 1-4 learners. It leverages tablet-based learning technology to improve literacy and numeracy skills, ensuring children build strong foundational competencies that set them up for future academic success.
In Zomba, the Creative Centre for Community Mobilization (CRECCOM) serves as the Implementing Support Partner (ISP), playing a key role in facilitating the program’s rollout and engagement with schools and communities.
Through BEFIT, learners engage with interactive digital lessons that are self-paced and adaptive, allowing them to progress at their own speed while receiving real-time feedback. Teachers also receive support to facilitate learning, ensuring that digital tools complement traditional teaching methods.
After observing BEFIT sessions in the classroom, Vikas Varma expressed his admiration for the program’s ability to engage young learners:
"It was incredible to see how confident and excited the children were while using tablets. The technology is truly making a difference in how they grasp basic numeracy and literacy concepts, ensuring that no child is left behind", said Varma.
Chavi Jain echoed this sentiment, highlighting the potential of BEFIT to scale across the region:
"The innovation behind BEFIT is remarkable. Seeing first-hand how it empowers learners to take charge of their learning process is inspiring. This model has the potential to transform early-grade education across Malawi and beyond", said Jain.
Accompanying the TaRL Africa team on the tour was CRECCOM Executive Director Alinafe Chibwana, who emphasized the importance of technology-driven solutions in addressing foundational learning gaps:
"The impact of BEFIT is undeniable. Children who previously struggled with reading and numeracy now show remarkable improvement. This initiative is a testament to what can be achieved when education, technology, and strong partnerships come together", said Chibwana.
Following the school visits, the TaRL Africa team met with Zomba Urban Director of Education, Youth, and Sports, Ignatious Kameni, at the Zomba District Education Office. The discussions centered on the role of digital learning in improving education outcomes, as well as how BEFIT aligns with Malawi’s broader education strategy.
Speaking on behalf of the education office, Ignatious Kameni commended the initiative, stating:"
As a district, we are excited to see the impact of BEFIT. This approach supports our efforts to strengthen early-grade learning, and we hope to see its continued expansion in more schools", said Kameni.
The tour concluded with a visit to the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE), where the delegation engaged with key stakeholders involved in curriculum development. Discussions focused on how technology can be effectively integrated into Malawi’s education system, ensuring sustainability and alignment with national policies.
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