By Memory Kutengule Chatonda

Blantyre, November 7, Mana: Parliamentary Committees for Education and Media, Information, and Communication have expressed satisfaction with the progress made in the construction of the state-of-the-art computer laboratory at Ndirande Hills Secondary, courtesy of the Connect A School (CAS) project.

Speaking in Blantyre on Thursday after inspecting the project, Education Committee Vice Chairperson, Ephraim Nayeja, said the committees are impressed with the quality of work and the progress made against the project completion timeline.

"The quality of the infrastructure is of high standard and as a committee we will continue to monitor the project to ensure that the quality is maintained up to the finishing," he said.

Vice Chair for Media, Information and Communication in Parliament, Ishmael Grant, said based on the progress made in the construction, he is optimistic that the laboratory will be ready by next month.

He hailed Malawi Communication Regulatory Authority (MACRA) for implementing CAS project, saying it aligns perfectly with government's vision of providing students with the essential tools and skills needed to thrive in the digital era.

"This initiative does not only bridge the digital divide but also fosters an inclusive and forward-thinking environment, thereby laying a robust foundation for Malawi's socioeconomic growth and ensuring that no child is left behind in the digital era," he said.

Ndirande Hills Secondary School Head Teacher, Wyson Phiri, said the laboratory will ease challenges faced by the students in accessing modern tools, resources and opportunities for studies and career development.

He pledged to take care of the facility to ensure that it benefits students now and years to come.

About 75 schools across the country are expected to benefit from the CAS project through Universal Service Fund in its first phase of implementation, which will end by December this year.

Each laboratory built in the schools will be provided with 20 computers and each school will be connected to the internet for three years.