By Chisomo Phiri
Education policy reform and quality assurance expert Dr.Zizwa Msukuma says digitalization should be treated as a key pillar of education reform rather than a luxury amid concerns over limited access to technology in Malawi’s schools.
In an interview with 247 Malawi News,Msukuma,said digital transformation should complement existing reforms in governance, teacher development and infrastructure, while helping to bridge the rural-urban divide and prepare learners for the digital economy.
Zizwa Msukuma
His remarks come as a 2026 School Connectivity Landscape Analysis shows that 85.8 percent of secondary schools in Malawi still lack internet access, highlighting the challenges facing the country’s efforts to transform education through digital technology.
The analysis shows that 47 percent of schools also have no access to electricity, while an average of one computer is shared by 356 students, highlighting the significant technological challenges facing the country’s education sector.
It further reveals that 43 percent of all computers in schools are concentrated in just five urban districts, creating a wide disparity in access to digital learning opportunities between urban and rural learners.
The findings come as Malawi seeks to achieve the aspirations of Vision 2063, which places emphasis on developing a modern, inclusive and knowledge-based economy.
The analysis says investment in reliable electricity, broadband connectivity, solar-powered solutions and affordable digital devices is essential if Malawi is to expand access to digital learning.
However, it argues that digital transformation should go beyond providing infrastructure.
The analysis says teachers need training to effectively use interactive learning platforms, e-libraries and multimedia resources, while the curriculum should incorporate digital literacy, coding and problem-solving skills.
The analysis also call for stronger governance frameworks to establish standards for digital content, protect learners online and monitor teacher readiness, digital platforms and learning outcomes.
Despite the challenges,it say several initiatives are already contributing to Malawi’s digital education agenda.
The DigiLearn Project, initiated by Computers for Enhanced Education, has recently distributed 6,000 computers to 300 schools and aims to reach 1,000 schools by 2028.
In Kasungu, the Tech Bridges to Malawi initiative has installed Starlink internet, solar power and laptops in 35 rural schools, providing students with their first exposure to digital learning.
The Building Education Foundations through Innovation and Technology (BEFIT) Programme has also provided solar energy to 500 schools, reaching 277,000 learners.
The analysis, however, notes that these initiatives remain limited compared with the scale of the national need.
It says technology alone cannot transform education without adequately trained teachers.
In 2025, the Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) trained 70 teachers in ICT integration, including the use of Google Workspace and RACHEL servers.
However, the research analysis says this represents only a fraction of the training required to mainstream digital learning across the country.
The Ministry of Education, working with the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority and development partners, has pledged to achieve universal school connectivity by 2030.
The commitment is supported by World Bank projects and the Universal Service Fund, but experts caution that connectivity alone will not produce meaningful learning outcomes unless it is accompanied by teacher training and curriculum reform.
The analysis says Malawi’s digital education journey is characterised by progress alongside deep inequalities, with urban schools beginning to benefit from ICT investments while many rural schools remain disconnected.
It warns that without accelerated reforms to ensure equitable access to technology, a generation of learners could be left unprepared for the demands of the digital economy.
According to the analysis, bridging the digital divide will require coordinated investment in infrastructure, teacher training and curriculum reform so that learners across the country have access to 21st-century education.
It says the future of Malawi’s workforce will depend partly on how quickly the country can move from traditional chalkboards to smart classrooms.
