Reflections and Key Takeaways from the recent EdTech Pakistan Conference, organized by SABAQ and partners.
I had the pleasure of attending this conference alongside my fellow educationists, Muhammad Waleed Ahmed and Zainab Mukhtar. The event was the first of its kind, where all EdTech leaders were gathered.
Here is the crux from my notes:
Mr. Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, shared his opinion on empowering entrepreneurs and educators in Pakistan. He urged everyone to move past fancy talks, stating that it's time to accept our failures and live in reality. He emphasized the importance of facilitating existing EdTech players in Pakistan rather than looking outside.
Mosharraf Zaidi, CEO Tabadlab, delivered a talk on "How to Ensure Technology Doesn't Damage Learning in the EdTech Age." He shared the research and thoughts of Jonathan Haidt, an eminent social psychologist, who believes that children's smartphones are a major threat to their mental well-being. He further referred to the act passed by the Australian Parliament to ban the use of social media for children under the age of 16. He added that while there is so much technology in EdTech, there is very little "Ed" in EdTech. His thoughts on involving educators in conversations and decision-making processes regarding the compatibility of EdTech solutions are truly a need of the hour. Additionally, he shared his views on the Learning Nexus, which spans around students, teachers, and parents, highlighting the importance of key stakeholders in a child's learning.
Ahmad Jawad Asghar from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, also emphasized that solution products must be selected by the teachers at evolving stages. He further reiterated that the quality of EdTech—whether good or bad—must be assessed based on evidence of its usability and efficiency in terms of learning outcomes. As an educator, I totally endorse his recommendations, especially since there is so much focus on infrastructure in the FDE's context. However, problems arise with usability, as most teaching staff is not pre-trained on how to use the technology.
Umbreen Arif said, "Our young talent is moving faster than our slow-moving bureaucracy." She further emphasized the need to acknowledge domestic talent, noting that engaging local talent can truly create transformative impact.
Dr. Suleman Shahid سلیمان شاہد ۔, from LUMSx, emphasized scalable impact and extensive knowledge-sharing. His statement, "The Internet is a human right," resonated deeply with the audience.
In conclusion, I believe that collaboration among key EdTech players (Founders) as a collective force to provide solutions, can change Pakistan's educational landscape. These solutions must be tailored to the local context, given the diverse needs across Pakistan.
Huge shout out to Hassan Bin Rizwan, Sana Khalid, their whole team, collaborators, and partners for making this conference a success by gathering the relevant audience.
#EdTech #InnovationInEducation #Pakistan
