Airtel Africa set to connect 5,000 schools to free internet by 2027

* Through the School Connection programme that is expanding digital learning to learners in 13 countries including Malawi

* In Malawi, the local initiative called Airtel Nzeru Connect Airtel has connected 36 schools across Malawi to the internet, while an additional nine schools are earmarked for connectivity in 2026

By Duncan Mlanjira

Airtel Africa has announced its commitment to connecting 5,000 schools across its operating countries in Africa including Malawi to the internet by 2027.

This is being done through the telco’s philanthropic arm, Airtel Africa Foundation, in partnership with the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) under the ‘School Connection’ programme that is expanding digital learning to learners in 13 countries.

In Malawi, the local initiative called Airtel Nzeru Connect Airtel has connected 36 schools across Malawi to the internet, while an additional nine schools are earmarked for connectivity in 2026.

During a visit to St. Monica’s Girls’ School in Lusaka — one of the 300 schools already connected to the internet in Zambia — Airtel Africa Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sunil Taldar, unveiled that the initiative is having a profound impact on the quality of education by expanding access to digital learning resources for African children in collaboration with governments.

So far, the US$57 million partnership, which was launched in 2021, has cumulatively connected 3,296 schools and provided access to over two million learners and about 40,000 teachers.

Sixty-four digital learning platforms have been zero-rated, enabling more than 11 million users to access educational content at no cost.

“Students are accessing best-in-class education from the curriculum developed by UNICEF in partnership with various Ministries of Education and provided through Airtel’s connectivity,” Taldar said in Lusaka.

“We are also training teachers so that they deliver digital education effectively. We aim to continue deepening meaningful connectivity in schools by providing free internet access, zero-rated platforms and training teachers across the continent.”

Expressing her appreciation, St. Monica’s Girls’ School Headmistress, Sr. Matilda Soloko, said: “Being among the first schools connected in the initial stage, our learners have been able to study using the learning portal and their studies have been intensified. We remain grateful to Airtel and UNICEF.”

UNICEF’s Country Representative for Zambia, Dr. Saja Farooq Abdullah, said: “What this partnership has brought is really bridging the equality gap and the digital divide.

“It is making sure that every child learns wherever they are. It was exciting and interesting to see and hear from the girls how they can learn at their own pace, how they can review the materials, and how they do their homework with comfort.”

Present was Director of Secondary Education in Zambia’s Ministry of Education, Yvonne Mwemba Chuulu, who lauded UNICEF and Airtel for the partnership, saying: “At the Ministry of Education, we cannot do it alone, and we are grateful for the partnership that we have today.

“Our children are able to learn in a blended fashion, where we have a teacher who is also employing digital devices.

“We have also heard from the learners that they are able to access the portal when they are at home, which is a good thing because our learners continue to learn in the comfort of their homes.”

Airtel Africa maintains that by equipping these schools with internet connectivity and training teachers on the use of digital tools, the School Connection programme, is providing children, “particularly those in underserved and remote regions, with the digital skills they need to thrive”.

The Airtel Nzeru Connect-School Connectivity Project in Malawi is directly benefiting over 32,000 learners in connected schools, while more than 900 teachers are utilising the ICT laboratories to enhance teaching practices and improve learning outcomes.

“In Malawi, the initiative has also established ICT laboratories in connected schools equipped with smart TVs, tablets and free airtel internet, and also zero-rated 12 local online e-learning websites, enabling free access to digital educational content.

To date, over one  million users have accessed these platforms at no cost,” says Airtel Africa in the statement.

Airtel Africa Foundation is advancing inclusive development across four strategic pillars – Financial Inclusion, Education, Environmental Sustainability and Digital Inclusion.

In January 2026, Airtel-Africa-Foundation-and-Malawi University-of-Science-and-Technology-(MUST)-launched-the-Nzeru-Fund-Tech-scholarships-in-Malawi-to-nurture-next-generation-digital-leaders.

The Nzeru Fund will be awarding 25 Tech Scholarships to Malawi’s undergraduates from low-income households, enabling them to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields at MUST.

The programme directly tackles the financial and skills barriers that prevent young Africans from accessing the digital economy.

Thus in partnership with MUST, Nzeru Fund will be supporting high-achieving first-year students requiring financial support to pursue programs in information technology, computer science, computer technology, software engineering, data science, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity for the full duration of their courses at the university’s Thyolo and Blantyre campuses.