CHIEF MTHWALO CHAMPIONS DIGITAL LEARNING

Chief Mthwalo interacts with the BEFIT learning Tablet

Traditional Authority (T/A) Mthwalo of Mzimba has pledged his full support for the Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) program, describing it as a key step toward securing a brighter future for children in his area.

Speaking during an open day aimed at raising awareness for the program at Luvwere Primary School in Mzimba North, parents, teachers, students, and local leaders leaned in as he spoke, not as a politician, not as a guest, but as a guardian of the future.

He emphasized the lasting benefits of digital learning, particularly in rural settings.

“Digital learning shapes a path for our children, one that will bring long-term benefits to our villages,” he said.

BEFIT is a Government of Malawi initiative designed to boost foundational literacy and numeracy for learners in Standards 1 to 4 in public primary schools.

For many children in Malawi, the odds are stacked high: overcrowded classrooms, limited teaching materials, and high pupil-teacher ratios. It’s no wonder so many falls behind before they even begin.

BEFIT is changing this narrative. Through Android tablets loaded with child-friendly, curriculum-aligned apps, learners can now read, count, and explore at their own pace, even in the most remote schools. The goal is simple but bold: to build strong learning foundations, using technology as the bridge.

And for T/A Mthwalo, this bridge isn’t just about gadgets, it’s about equity. He didn’t just speak; he took a stand, calling on fellow traditional leaders to take education seriously.

“Education is not the government’s job alone. We, as chiefs, must be champions of learning in our communities,” he said. “If it’s about education, I support it and will always come in to help.”

The chief’s endorsement adds cultural weight to the program, helping build trust and encouraging wider acceptance of technology in education.

As BEFIT continues to expand across the country, the involvement of traditional leaders, educators, and learners themselves is key in making digital education not just a policy, but a lived reality.

Ulalo is supporting the implementation of the BEFIT program in 179 schools across Mzimba North, Mzimba South, Karonga, Mzuzu, and Likoma education districts.