Minister urges schools to introduce e-learning amid Covid-19: Maranatha enrols 10 000 students
Minister of Education, Science and Technology William Susuwele Banda has urged schools in the country to use distance learning programmes in response to school closures due to the Coronavirus pandemic that has affected education systems.
Speaking, during a news conference by the Special Cabinet Committee on Coronavirus in Lilongwe, Banda said that the Ministry was working on lessons that will be delivered via multi platforms including radio, television and online among others to enable students remain active while at home.
Susuwele-Banda, however commended some private schools like Maranatha Academy, who have already embarked on e-learning programs following the Coronavirus pandemic.
He hailed such schools and urged other education institutions that can afford to emulate Maranatha so many students learn via online.
According to Maranatha Academy, managing director Ernest Kawonga, so far the response of online home learning has been overwhelming.
Kawonga told Nyasa Times that close to 10 000 students have enrolled for e-learning.
“We are encouraged with the response from the general public because as of Tuesday morning we enrolled close to 10 000 students for the program,” he said.
Kawonga also revealed that they have slashed the registration money from K30 000 to K15000 after considering that many Malawians are passing through hard economic times with the Coronavirus pandemic.
“We would like to let all parents know that now they can register their children with K15 000 from K30 000, and that the program is open to every student not only Maranatha students,” he said.
“At Maranatha we think Malawi as a nation has made so many strides in the field of technology and there is no reason why we should all go to bed academically in this difficult time of Covid-19,” he said.
President Peter Mutharika ordered closure of schools from March 23 as part of precautionary measures to guard against Covid-19.
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Our government is full of dull pipo. Let the govt host some content on its servers and then allow this traffic on telecom providers for free. Airtel and tnm have country wide coverage. Let them provide the last mile connectivity for learning for free. Osati wina azikamba zogula data pamenepa.
This is good initiative. We have a government that cares for all indeed. Those in rural areas will be learning through Radio station, MBC being the mother channel, it will surely reach out to many if not all. This also will help in filling up the gap between students from National secondary schools and those from community day secondary school as they will all listen to same Teachers. Leaving no one behind.
computers ,laptops donated from outside countries are disyributed among MPs,PSs and any senior staff. even though they are computer illiteracy.
bola kale at least school iliyose pamakhala NZERU RADIO AND SCHOOL PROGRAMMES. Lelo MBC is a personal assert.
ngati ana athu akuphuzililabe mmipanga yatsekela, no school buiding, nthawi ya mvula ana kuvutika, all governments frpm Muluzi till today education susyem is gone onto the drain.
all presdents have been coming in celebrate ,honeymooned and go.
everyone comes in ,showbizzes ,flash theor life styles and go.
corrupt, swindle, all gates etc and go leaving Malawi in rugs.
IDIOTS
Zakhala bwino pamenepa..mmalo mokuti daily mmawailesi mu kwachela anthu kuimba ma phone kupeleka moni. Kale the school programs helped a lot we can just improve them now with TV and Social media. MMalo motha bundle ndikupanga download or circulate zolawula we can buy bundle for our kids to learn..yalaaa
Government schools or private schools eiiish.
Minister please use your brain.
This is really a clueless government. So you want to leave out sons and daughters of poor people from Miseu 4 and many other rural areas
this a good idea bwana kawonga
Stupid thinking. How many schools have the technology?
E-learning in Malawi? Are you having a laugh or what? Another thick idiot in this incompetent government.
Very good words by Hon minister
How do those going to our poor public CDSS access this elearning?