BEFIT: Building a Strong Foundation That is Helping Doris Chavula Find Standard 5 Easy

Doris Chavula, holding a tablet during her standard 4 era

Doris Chavula, a 10-year-old learner now in Standard 5 at Lusangazi Full Primary School in Mzimba North, attributes much of her academic progress to the goverment owned and led Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) program, which helped shape the strong foundation in numeracy and literacy that she now carries forward.

Doris began using the BEFIT tablets in Standard 4, a period during which the program made a significant impact on her literacy and numeracy skills. “The tablets made learning so exciting,” Doris recalls. “When I was using the tablet, I could practice my reading and math at my own pace. It helped me understand things better.”

The BEFIT program, which focuses on improving reading and numeracy outcomes for students in Standards 1 to 4, played a crucial role in Doris’s early education. Through interactive lessons, Doris was able to correct her mistakes quickly and build her confidence in her academic abilities.

“The tablet sessions gave me a chance to try again when I made mistakes. I could keep learning until I got it right,” she says.

“Standard 5 feels easier because I am more confident in my reading and math skills”-Doris shares

By the time Doris moved on to Standard 5, the strong academic foundation she built through BEFIT had made a noticeable difference.

“Standard 5 feels easier because I am more confident in my reading and math skills,” Doris shares. “The lessons from the tablets gave me the tools I need to keep improving.”

Though Doris no longer uses the tablets in Standard 5, the skills she gained during her time in Standard 4 continue to enhance her learning, helping her secure the top position in the first term of the new class.

The foundation she received through the BEFIT program has set her up for continued success, equipping her with the literacy and numeracy skills necessary to thrive in her future education.

Doris's story is a powerful example of how early interventions like BEFIT can provide lasting benefits. Through the program, thousands of students in Mzimba have built a strong educational foundation that will support them for years to come, just like Doris, as they continue to pursue their dreams.

Ulalo is part of the consortium supporting the BEFIT program’s implementation, an Education Technology (Edtech) initiative being implemented by the Ministry of Education through the Directorate of Open Distance and E-learning (DoDEL) and Directorate of Basic Education (DBE).

The BEFIT program will enable learners in approximately 6,000 public primary schools across Malawi, particularly in Standards 1 to 4, to access learning using tablet empowering them with the tools to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.