Minister calls for mindset change on ODeL Learning
By Monica Tambala
Lilongwe, June 1: Minister of Education, Madalitso Kambauwa Wirima has called on Malawians to embrace Open Distance and e-Learning (ODeL) as an alternative mode of learning citing its innovativeness, creativity and ability to allow access to quality education for every Malawian regardless of their geographic location and socio-economic background.
Speaking in Lilongwe on Thursday at a National ODeL Symposium held under the theme “An Innovative Technological and Knowledge-based ODeL Ecosystem, Key to Human Capital Development,” the Minister expressed worry of the old education system which she said does not seem to be accessible and inclusive enough hence the need to embrace ODeL teaching and learning.
The Minister added that having a robust ODeL ecosystem implies effective learning during unavoidable school closures, inclusive learning for students unable to leave homes and attend classes for various reasons, as well as easy access and convenience for people wishing to upgrade.
Secretary for Education, Chikondano Mussa said although the education sector has registered some good progress, it is still grappling with challenges related to access and equity, quality and relevance as well as governance and management at all levels of education.
She further highlighted the lack of adequate school infrastructure as one element hindering progress which she said can be addressed by blending learning approaches to significantly increase access to education so as to build the needed human capital drive of the Malawi 2063 goals.
“With these challenges we are mandated to find alternative means of schooling, we cannot wait for a time in the unforeseeable future, when we will have constructed adequate physical infrastructure to absorb all eligible students in our education system, it will take ages. That is why today, we are promoting ODeL which has played a significant role since 1965,” she said.
United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Acting Deputy Mission Director, Christine Veverka described ODeL as a practical solution to Malawi’s issue of inaccessibility to education hence partnering with Malawi to promote ODeL.
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