The Government of Malawi has officially validated its Artificial Intelligence Readiness Assessment Report, marking a step toward preparing the country's education and public sectors for digital integration, according to TechAfrica News. Organised by the Ministry of Education with support from UNESCO's Regional Office for Southern Africa, a validation workshop in Lilongwe recently gathered government officials, academia, and development partners to review the findings. Secretary for Education, Science and Technology Ken Ndala stated that the assessment will help identify gaps in policy, institutional capacity, and digital infrastructure. He noted that the report will guide future investments and resource allocations to ensure responsible AI adoption that aligns with Malawi's social and cultural context.
In higher education, a new study by University of Malawi (UNIMA) researchers warns that the country's university graduates are inadequately prepared to care for a growing elderly population. As reported by Nyasa Times, the research by Agnes Gogo Wizi-Kambala and Charles Kamwana-Junior, published in the African Journal of Social Work, highlights that gerontology is treated as a marginal subject. The study notes that the topic is currently offered only as a fourth-year elective in social work programmes. The researchers are urging curriculum reforms, pointing out that many students complete their degrees and field placements without gaining direct experience or the necessary practical skills to support older persons professionally.