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In Malawi
The 'Computers for Malawian Schools' scheme is administered by a committee made up of academic and business representatives, as well as Ministry of Education and British Council personnel. It is currently being registered as a formal NGO.
- The British Council assist with receipt of the goods exempt of duty. They are processed and prepared at the CFMS site in Blantyre where CFMS staff check, process and repair the equipment. Microsoft OS and MSOffice suite are installed by agreement with Microsoft (Africa). The CFMS team also inspect and approve the recipient schools and help set up the computers. They also manage disposal of end of life equipment through DESCO.
- As in all recipient countries strict criteria are applied to the candidate schools to ensure they have the right facilities
and security to house the equipment. Each school receives around ten to fifteen computers and a printer. Training of the teachers in IT has in the past been
arranged by the British Council and UK trainers have been out to Malawi to carry out IT teacher training courses. CFMS staff now do the teacher training themselves following the curriculum developed in Zambia.
- The CFMS team also carry out regional maintenance and repair workshops in which the schools are encouraged to participate
- In conjunction with the scheme the Malawian Ministry of Education has developed an IT curriculum which pupils follow.
- Schools are also encouraged to ensure long term self-sustainability for the facilities through their PTA. They are
encouraged to raise money to replace or add to their equipment through fundraising, community use of the facilities and if necessary asking parents
for small contributions.
- Each recipient school is required to give a report on its experience with the computers and is subject to audit.
- As with other schemes, funding to help with sustainability of the scheme locally is achieved by offering a small proportion of computers to NGO's and other non-profit organisations at an affordable price.
A list of recipient schools is shown on the Malawian schools page.
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