This case study aims to describe the Government of Pakistan’s efforts to continue to providing quality education during the COVID-19 pandemic through alternative delivery channels. The data collection involved key informant interviews with civil servants, research organisations, and teachers. We conducted also a literature review, comprising reports, newspaper articles, and policy briefs, for recommendations as a possible course of future action.
Impact / Outcome The shock to the education system has driven the institutional and structural machinery of the sector to focus on emergency planning which had been missing till date to cater to the current scenario. While the National Emergency Plan does consider leveraging technology to support teaching and learning, it does not explicitly address the poor technology infrastructure in the country which limits the use of technology in schools.
With limited education monitoring and evaluation capabilities, the impact of the government initiatives on teaching and learning is uncertain. Technology is not a silver bullet to solve educational challenges arising out of limited investment in the education sector. There is a need to look at multimodal approach to blended learning to cater to disparities in access and quality in terms of gender, disability, and learning outcomes.
Key Metrics Continue providing quality education during lockdowns through alternative delivery channels