Empowering Female Educators through Digital Skills Training

The Department of Computer Sciences at the University of Malawi remains committed to bridging the digital skills gap among women, particularly those with few opportunities to learn computer basics. Building on this commitment, the department recently conducted a two-day ICT fundamentals and Microsoft Office training for female secondary school teachers in Zomba District.

Held from 3rd to 4th December, 2025 at Likangala Secondary School, and fully funded by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the Inclusive Digital Transformation for Malawi (IDT4M) project, the initiative aimed to strengthen digital competence among female educators and enhance their ability to integrate technology into teaching and school management.

A total of 58 female teachers participated, representing Likangala Secondary School, Zomba Urban Secondary School, Songani Community Day Secondary School, Naisi Community Day Secondary School, and Masongola Secondary School.

The training opened with welcome remarks and a presentation of objectives by Mrs Auxilia Kaunda, a project fellow for HISP UNIMA, setting the stage for an engaging and productive learning experience. Participants were introduced to foundational ICT concepts, including basic hardware and software, followed by practical sessions on navigating the Windows Operating System to support both instructional and administrative tasks.

On the second day, teachers undertook hands-on training in Microsoft Word, focusing on creating documents and applying essential formatting features. They later transitioned to Microsoft Excel, where they developed introductory spreadsheet skills vital for lesson planning, learner record-keeping, and general school administration.

Through initiatives like this, UNIMA continues to empower women in education, equipping them with the digital skills needed to excel in an increasingly technology-driven world and contribute meaningfully to Malawi’s digital transformation agenda.