from analog to digital. The equipment is ordered and is set to be installed. An independent agency will run the digital signal switch for the benefit of all stakeholders in the broadcasting industry. This will enable broadcasters to concentrate on content development and should contribute to improved broadcasting programming. 3.7 Universal Access – Rural Connectivity Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is implementing telecommunications infrastructure development through the establishment of telecentres in several rural areas of the country through ITU's support. The majority of Malawians (about 80%) live in the rural areas where access to basic ICT services is not readily available therefore the implementation of the ITU/MACRA/MPC tele-centre project has brought great enthusiasm and uptake of ICT services to the extent that the Government of Malawi is embarking on a "Connect a Constituency" Project to make sure that there is at least one Multipurpose Community Tele-centre (MCT) in each constituency. Five tele-centers are currently in place over a period of three years in addition to the government established fifty-one telecentres. This will help in the attainment of the millennium development goals (MDG's) as people will have access to online internet based information and ICT enabled applications i.e. e-learning, e-health and agriculture information. To this end, Malawi government is ensuring that it puts in place an enabling policy, legal and regulatory framework to ensure provision of affordable and accessible ICT services to its citizens especially those in the rural areas. 3.8 Education and e-Learning projects The Ministry of Education through donor aid technical assistance developed the Education Management Information System (EMIS). EMIS is developed using most common, simple programming language on a common desktop database platform Ms Access as a cost effective solution to education data needs. It also includes a decision support system component. The Ministry provided financial and human resource support to sustain running of the system. A district level system (DEMIS) is used to 29