The Malawi Institute of Education (MIE) has reaffirmed its commitment to digital transformation by equipping its staff with essential ICT skills. On August 12, 2025, MIE conducted a two-day ICT Capacity Building Workshop, aimed at strengthening the digital competencies of staff involved in curriculum development and related functions.
Organised through the Directorate of Curriculum Development (DCD) and the Teacher Development Unit (TDU), the workshop brought together over 20 participants from key departments and units, including Curriculum Development, Research and Policy Studies, Corporate Services, Finance, the Education Materials Production and Resource Unit (EMPRU), and the TDU itself.
Opening the workshop, Ms Loyce Chisale, Curriculum Specialist for Science and Technology who also represented the Director of Curriculum Development, emphasised the growing importance of digital proficiency in curriculum design. She highlighted the need for MIE staff to stay ahead of technological trends in education and use these tools to improve both the development and delivery of educational content.
Facilitators Rodgers Missili and Gibson Dzimbiri led participants through a series of interactive sessions designed to build practical digital skills. The training covered computer operations, Microsoft Office applications, navigation of the Bloombox ICT Lab and Rachel Server for offline educational content, and effective use of Google Workspace tools such as Drive, Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Calendar.
Participants also learnt how to manage virtual meetings using Zoom and Microsoft Teams, apply cybersecurity best practices, and explore AI-powered tools to enhance productivity in curriculum work. Each participant was provided with a laptop, allowing them to apply the skills in real time, particularly in creating digital teaching materials, generating academic reports, managing data securely, and automating administrative tasks.
In her closing remarks, Madam Chisale commended the participants for their enthusiasm and commitment to learning. She encouraged them to become ICT champions within their departments by applying and sharing the knowledge gained during the workshop.
The successful completion of this workshop marks a significant step in MIE’s ongoing efforts to modernise its operations and support national education reforms through digital capacity building.