By Trinity Kamwani

Neno, February 19, Mana: Building Education Foundation Through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) program has transformed education in Neno by improving literacy and numeracy skills among learners.

Deputy Head teacher for Kachere Primary School, Timothy Kachere, highlighted on Wednesday in an interview that BEFIT’s interactive and technology-driven approach has make a significant impact, particularly on learners in Standards 1 to 4.

"We have seen a remarkable improvement in reading and numeracy skills, especially among Standard 3 and 4 learners. This progress is also reflected in standardized examinations, where performance has significantly improved," Kachere said in an interview with Mana.

According to Kachere, the program has not only enhanced academic performance but also encouraged better school attendance.

"The digital learning tools have made lessons more engaging, helping students develop consistent study habits. As a result, learners are more confident in their studies and their overall performance has improved," he said.

He said the interactive nature of BEFIT provides personalized learning pathways, allowing learners to grasp concepts at their own pace and this flexibility has been particularly beneficial in helping struggling learners catch up with their peers.

Neno District BEFIT Coordinator, Saezi Malikebu, shared that recent performance assessments show a dramatic improvement in pass rates for Chichewa and Mathematics, rising from 40-50 percent to between 90-100 percent in some schools.

"Learners are now mastering concepts much faster, and they also have extra time for practice after normal lessons. This has resulted in stronger academic competition at the zone level and an overall boost in school performance," Malikebu said.

A Standard 4 learner at Kapanikiza Primary School, Mphatso Mtsamira said the program has transformed her academic journey.

"When I transferred to this school, I struggled with reading. But with the tablet lessons, I can now read fluently, manipulate numbers, and confidently answer comprehension questions," she said.

Similarly, a standard 3 learner at Kalion Primary School, Emmanuel Joseph, said he had little interest in attending classes as his mother had to escort him daily to school.

However, after being introduced to BEFIT, his attitude toward education changed and now he enjoys learning and attends classes regularly and is excelling academically according to his class teacher.

BEFIT is currently in its first phase and is covering 12 primary out of 88 primary schools in Neno.