Improving foundational learning using technology in Malawi: The role of data, evidence and partnerships

How a technology-based education program, supported by a GPE Multiplier grant, is contributing to the transformation of Malawi’s primary education system.

January 28, 2025 by Joe Wolf, Imagine Worldwide, and Rapelang Rabana, Imagine Worldwide
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5 minutes read
A group of students using tablets provided by the BeFIT program. Malawi. Credit: CRECCOM

A group of students using tablets provided by the BeFIT program. Malawi.

Credit: CRECCOM

Data and evidence are the foundation for transforming education systems, yet globally, less than 10% of education technology tools have evidence of impact.

At Imagine Worldwide, we believe rigorous research and continuous, data-driven improvement are essential to achieving meaningful educational outcomes. Equally important is our dedication to collaborating with national governments, like our partnership with the government of Malawi, to ensure these solutions are effective and sustainable at scale.

We use data and implementation research to not only show impact, but also continuously refine our programs so that they’re adaptable and effective before any scaling occurs.

Our dual focus on evidence and system change aligns with GPE’s approach for the digital transformation of education that advocates for making data and evidence central to educational strategies and fostering a culture of continuous improvement and collaboration among educators, learners, parents and stakeholders.

The visionary leadership of our partners in Malawi to improve foundational learning through a first-of-its kind program presents exciting opportunities and lessons to follow.

Partnering for sustainable change in education

Systemic change in education must be led by local governments and actors. Thanks to the government’s bold commitment to improve foundational learning and embrace innovation in Malawi, Imagine was able to support the design, testing and implementation of the Building Education Foundations through Innovation & Technology (BEFIT) tablet program.

The BEFIT program delivers tablets to each primary school, allowing all students to receive supplemental daily learning lessons covering literacy and numeracy. The lessons are integrated into regular teaching structures without the need for new learning spaces or infrastructure to the school.

The BEFIT evidence-based literacy and numeracy curriculum adapts to each child’s level and pace for less than $7 per child annually (inclusive of upfront capital expenditures).

The first year of BEFIT, that began in academic year 2023-2024, brought solar power to an initial 500 schools, serving 277,000 students. Now in its second year of implementation, the BEFIT program will reach an additional 460 schools to achieve a program presence in every district, keeping pace for our ultimate goal: reaching all primary schools in the country.

BEFIT is formally led by the Malawi Ministry of Education and is integrated into the national education system, timetable and budget.

The government is expanding the learning program to every primary school in the country to serve nearly 4 million students per year—becoming one of the first nations to scale a personalized foundational learning solution country wide.

In collaboration with our software partner onebillion and local partners and technical service providers, our work over the next 5 years aims to strengthen key education system functions and build local expertise and experience in implementing the tablet program, all to ensure sustainable government ownership and management.

The efficacy of our tablet’s software has been demonstrated through 9 randomized controlled trials conducted in diverse settings, countries and languages. The trials have shown significant improvements in literacy and numeracy skills, with girls gaining at least as much as boys in their learning outcomes.

In addition, 1.5 times as many children who have received the learning software have reached ‘emergent’ or ‘fluent’ benchmarks for reading and mathematics compared to their peers who only received standard instruction.

This transformation in Malawi’s primary education system is also thanks to partnerships with catalytic private philanthropists and GPE.

Imagine mobilized short-term private philanthropy to deliver tablets, install solar charging stations, coordinate training, implement the program in a critical mass of schools and generate country-specific evidence—all necessary elements for successful program scaling.

The GPE Multiplier innovative finance tool was a powerful motivator for private donors, raising $30.4 million for Year 2 and Year 3 of BEFIT—100% of which directly supports BEFIT and builds momentum for national scale. Having recently been approved as a GPE grant agent, Imagine looks forward to continuing this partnership with GPE to serve other countries.

A girl using a tablet provided by the BeFIT program. Malawi. Credit: Ulalo

A girl using a tablet provided by the BeFIT program. Malawi.

Credit:
Ulalo

Building a data-driven education ecosystem

Malawi’s national scale-up of the BEFIT program has illuminated the need for comprehensive, up-to-date and interconnected data, both at the student and education system level.

Closing this data gap will improve the ability of teachers and education leaders to make informed decisions, allocate resources efficiently, and implement targeted and differentiated interventions.

To this end, we’re developing an open learning architecture to create a robust project, site and device management platform that is open sourced and tailored to work in contexts of poor or intermittent internet connectivity while still being low cost and scalable.

This new platform will provide a centralized, reliable source of educational data across thousands of implementation sites and for millions of learners, fueling an iterative loop to continually improve the software and program implementation—an initiative in line with GPE’s vision for robust data systems that support evidence-based decision making.

A call for replication

Malawi’s BEFIT tablet program showcases how data and evidence can drive meaningful educational transformation. With a coalition of dedicated partners, the government is building a stronger, more resilient education system that benefits every learner.

Imagine is honored to have been invited by the governments of Sierra Leone and Tanzania to help expand the foundational learning tablet program in their countries. We encourage educators, policy makers, philanthropists, and global partners to join us in replicating Malawi’s success across sub-Saharan Africa and to support data-driven, digital education initiatives for improving foundational learning.

While we work towards large-scale, generational impact, let’s not forget the impact we are having at the smallest level: helping children realize their potential. As a young girl in a crowded classroom in Malawi shared, “I like the tablet because when I make a mistake it does not move on to the next student, it tells me to try again and when I try, I get the right answer.”

Let’s build the future of personalized, digital education guided by data and driven by collaboration.

Discover more about our work and how we are transforming education through partnership and innovation at Imagine Worldwide’s website and this short introductory video.

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Comments

This is a very great program, May God continue extending it to other places as well.

Greatly appreciated data.

We need more information on the process to follow to do the same in Zambia we have really been motivated by Malawi where children in primary school are already embracing technology

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