By Willy Kadewere

Chikwawa, May 25, Mana: Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) through 'Connect A School Project' will construct an Information Communication Technology (ICT) laboratory at  Nkhwangwa Community Day Secondary School (CDSS) in Chikwawa in a bid to improve education standards in rural areas,.

Speaking on Friday during a ground breaking ceremony, Finance Manager for MACRA, Limba Chapomba said the importance of the project in rural areas saying it would bridge the gap which has been there in terms of computer literacy between urban and rural learners.

"Unlike learners in urban areas who are progressing with the ICT, learners in rural areas have been denied access to ICT services due to unavailability of resources, as such the coming in of the project in rural areas will enhance ICT inclusiveness," he said.

"The project will help learners to acquire knowledge in computers at a tender age so that when they go to university, they should not have problems with computers," Chapomba added.

Member of Parliament for Chikwawa South, Ilyas Karim applauded MACRA for the initiative saying in a digital era, students must have access to ICT services in order to advance their skills in computer and research.

"We are living in a world of technology, having this kind of development is important to our community since students will have access to information through the ICT laboratory that MACRA is building in our area," he said.

Head Teacher for the School, Charles Kamanula has embraced the project saying it would enhance education standards the school as students would acquire information they want at any time from the laboratory.

One of the form 2 students, Caroline Malunga from Mangawa Village expressed gratitude with the coming of the laboratory saying it would help them to access right information from the ICT laboratory.

Meanwhile 75 schools are set to benefit from the first phase of the project across the country.