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.