TNM provides free internet to Malawi leaners amid Covid-19
Ministry of Education Science and Technology and TelecomNetworks Malawi (TNM plc) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to provide free internet to learners following closure of schools due to coronavirus (Covid-19) threat.
The signing ceremony took place at the Sunbird Capital Hotel in the Capital Lilongwe on Tuesday April 21 2020.
President Peter Mutharika, working on the need to prevent the spread of coronavirus, took a decision to close all schools, colleges including technical colleges, both public and private universities from March 23 2020.
Minister of Education, Science and Technology, Dr William Susuwele Banda who signed the MOU on behalf of the Malawi Government said the agreement is one of the interventions that have been put in place to enable continuous learning for learners.
He said as the country is sailing though unprecedented situation in the education sector, the ministry is responding to the situation to the best of its capabilities with support from its partners hence the signing of the MOU.
Under this arrangement, all students from Forms 1 to 2, be it from public or private schools, will be able to access lessons through the Ministry’s website www.education.gov.mw where the lessons have been uploaded at no data cost.
The only requirement is that the students should have a TNM number.
TNM will be uploading Forms 3 and 4 content as soon as development of the content is finalized.
“My ministry is working closely with a number of partners in coming up with a number of innovative solutions to keep our children busy with lessons while at home.These partners that include UNICEF, Save the Children Fund, VSO and NEPAD have been key to coming up with these solutions include learning through Radio, Television, Printed Materials and Online,” said the Education Minister.
Susuwele Banda said the lessons will bring the teachers directly interfacing with the learner through radio programs.
“We will have these programs on Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) and other radio stations. A
detailed schedule providing actual broadcast times will be provided by my ministry soon,” he said.
TNM plc chief executive officer, Michiel Buitelaar said his company thought of partnering with the Malawi Government because education is important while describing online education as an area where Malawi can make a big stride.
He said in the era of COVID-19, online education is very important as it enables students to do certain things that become difficult in an out of school environment.
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That is better than just staying at home
Nice response remove the WhatsApp bundle fee as well
This is cheap politics. How many learners have computers, laptops, ipads, smart phones, etc that they can use for learning and how many teachers are trained in blended learning or e-learning or preparation of online instructional materials. Learners are seating under the tree in towns and villages. They can’t afford food. APM needs to come back to reality. This is a poor move.
atleast partially you have tried this one is better than non children were iddle with school attendancy only few were thinking of studies we cant say many were studying in there homes
The majority of schoolchildren in Malawi are in the rural areas, how many of those have access to computers let alone internet connections to access those online school materials…
Why can’t this government just let people vote so we can have a legitimate government making legitimate decisions that would work for all Malawians and not just for a selected few….
This is a sign of the caring government. Malawi truly has a leader in APM.
Aaaaah awanso a chiombankhanga Keanu ku mulanje thyolo ana asukulu Ali ndi ma laptops kapena phone zoti amgaphunzire pa internet ndi angati? Izi nzamabwana izi osati amphawi akumudzi. Komabe zakomela akumpanda nanga kwao kwa a happier mhango ku mhuju ziliko izi
So TNM will now sell cards………….cash cash here
give them laptops even urban students don’t have PC this is malawi not USA…why not whatsapp?
Ribbon – Check
Sizasi – Check
DPP Minister – Check
‘Nduna zaukadulo waku jelusalemu full university and 4 other courses institute’
Welcome
How much? Don’t lie to me that it is free. Someone has always to pay. These secret deals one day we will know the truth. Money was supposed to be given directly to students. What about no tuition fees for these students instead of this deal that will only benefit the rich to get richer and richer.
I applaud TNM for this initiative. This is what corporate and social responsibility is all about. I’ve just commented on PCL’s profit release on Nyasa Times (my favorite newspaper btw). What will the impact of this TNM’s initiative be on 2020 revenue? It may actually not be that bad since they will bring on board a new cohort of consumers who will need to have TNM’s phones to access the e-education system. Another question is what will the impact of TNM’s initiative be on MTL its sister company? Well, I suspect that MTL will sink even further into the abyss of loss revenue, zero profit, increase unserviceable debt, and possible closure. For PCL, the net result is positive. For MTL, this will be an additional blow. Adam the wise man is routing for TNM and PCL. A little for MTL but it has no resources to compete. Congratulations to TNM!
Covid 19 has shown that we don’t need most of the things that we have: we don’t need classrooms, we don’t need some government departments,