Phalombe District Shows Progress in BeFIT Programme Implementation

The Phalombe District and Zonal Implementation Teams pose together following the review meeting.

Education officials in Phalombe District met to review the progress of the Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BeFIT) program, which is being implemented in 19 primary schools across the four zones of Nambiro, Mpesa, Nazombe, and Migowi. The District Implementation Team (DIT) and Zonal Implementation Teams (ZITs) shared updates highlighting the strides made in improving early-grade literacy and numeracy.

BeFIT is a government of Malawi-owned and led program aimed at enhancing foundational literacy and numeracy skills among learners in standards 1 to 4 across all public primary schools in Malawi through supplemental, individualized, self-paced instruction delivered via specialized apps on Android tablets.

Presentations from both the ZITs and DIT showcased significant achievements in the direct implementation of BeFIT. The session also highlighted the positive impact on student motivation and participation, with children demonstrating improved understanding and enthusiasm for learning.

The review paid attention to community sensitization efforts, with schools actively involving parents and local leaders to foster supportive learning environments. Leadership and institutionalization of the program were also emphasized, as school management teams are taking ownership by aligning BeFIT activities with school timetables and ensuring sustainability beyond Implementing Support Partner (ISP) support.

Participants engage actively in discussions during the BEFIT program review meeting.

CRECCOM Executive Director Alinafe Ireen Chibwana commended the district’s efforts, noting that BeFIT is fully owned by the government and that the support from CRECCOM is transitional. She emphasized that the program's current progress is a step in the right direction, urging all schools to continue reporting achievements, follow BeFIT timetables closely to maximize learner time on task, and share best practices to ensure uniform progress across the district.

Principal Education Officer for Phalombe, Ganizani Lipenga, praised the schools’ performance, observing that BeFIT is already transforming how learners acquire foundational skills and offering hope for improved learning outcomes in early grades.

Jonathan Nambazo shakes hands with the Principal Education Officer while the CRECCOM Executive Director looks on.

During the meeting, Jonathan Nambazo from Nambiro zone was recognized as a BeFIT champion for his exemplary leadership at Phalombe Primary School, setting a benchmark for other educators in the district.

The review concluded with a collective commitment from the DIT and ZITs to sustain program gains, institutionalize best practices, and continue supporting learners to achieve their full potential through BeFIT.