By Kennedy Minjale
Director of Education and Sports for Likoma District Council, Zimulange Mhango, has commended the Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) programme, implemented with support from Ulalo, for improving learner attendance and interest in education.
Mhango made the remarks on Thursday during a BEFIT open day, organised in collaboration with Likoma District Council, to showcase achievements, demonstrate ongoing activities, and engage stakeholders on support towards the programme.
“Since the introduction of the BEFIT programme, we have seen significant changes. Learners now come to school excited, absenteeism has reduced, and many are improving in reading, writing and mathematics,” said Mhango.He said the education department will continue to put measures in place to ensure proper care of the learning tablets so that the programme remains sustainable in schools.
BEFIT District Coordinator Margaret Chinthiti said the programme is also helping to reduce pressure on teachers by supporting learners in areas where individual attention is difficult during normal classroom learning.
“Some classrooms have large numbers of learners, making it difficult for teachers to attend to every child. The tablets are helping learners improve in areas where they face difficulties through guided learning,” said Chinthiti.
She appealed to development partners and well-wishers to support the programme with additional tablets, saying the district currently has inadequate learning devices, forcing schools to conduct multiple learning sessions.A Standard Four learner at Mtengula Primary School, Romeo Kapakasa, said the programme has helped him improve his reading and counting skills, which he previously struggled to understand in class.
The BEFIT programme was introduced in Likoma District in 2025 and is currently being implemented in all 10 public primary schools, benefiting about 2,272 learners.
