Communities in Dedza have hailed introduction of tablet-based learning under the Building Education Foundation Through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT), arguing it will motivate learners to go to school and reduce cases of absenteeism in the process.
Speaking during a community engagement meeting with community leaders in attendance at Gwengere Primary School in Dedza on Wednesday, Group Village Headman Mang’ombi said BEFIT sessions will equip the learners with literacy and numeracy skills, essential for their strong foundation learning.
“I commend government for this development, our wards are so lucky to have technology at their finger tips in an environment where previous generations used slates,” he said while pledging that the community will play a key role in ensuring security of the equipment.
He said as leaders, they will sensitise their subjects on the program to create much awareness of it, and take good care off the gadgets.
Catherine Tanazio, a representative of the Mother Group said a strong collaboration between school authority and the community is key to ensuring programmes like BEFIT yield it’s intended results.
He said as a community they will play a key role in ensuring smooth implementation of the tablet-based learning and fully offer their support.
Ministry of Education Spokesperson, Mphatso Nkuonera said the Ministry values the key role, community members play to ensure programmes implemented by the ministry achieve their intended outcomes.
“By showing such commitment, the community is giving us hope that the programme will be a success, just like in other areas where the programme is already running with community rendering its support towards it,” Nkuonera said.
He said cases of theft, vandalism and misconceptions are easily dealt with when the community is fully engaged and responds with support.
The session was patronized by representatives of the School Management Committee, Parents Teachers Association, Mother Group, Village Heads, Faith leaders, and Community Policing.
Gwengere Primary School is one of the first, 31 Primary Schools to have tablet-based learning under the BEFIT programme in Dedza. Government through Ministry of Education is currently rolling out BEFIT programme with a target of reaching all the 6000 public primary schools by 2029 in Malawi. #Education is Key
