Google partners with Pakistan to transform education for millions; Here’s all you need to know

ISLAMABAD: Google for Education and Pakistan’s Federal Ministry of Education have announced a strategic collaboration to bring digital transformation to millions of students in the country, here on Friday.

As per the details, this partnership will improve access to education and support the development of a digital ecosystem for learning for millions of students in Pakistan.

Google, through its Google for Education Country Partner, Tech Valley, will work with the Government of Pakistan to:

• Establish local assembly of over 500,000 Chromebooks by 2026.
• Provide access to digital tools and resources for students and teachers.
• Train teachers on how to use technology effectively in the classroom.
• Develop and implement innovative learning programs that leverage technology.

This collaboration will focus on helping out-of-school children in Pakistan. Last month, Pakistan’s prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, declared an “educational emergency” to deal with the problem of more than 26 million children being out of school. He pledged to oversee a national program to re-admit these children to educational institutions and hoped for the cooperation of the provincial governments in achieving this goal.

As part of the collaboration, Allied, an Australian manufacturer of Google Chromebooks, will set up an assembly line in Pakistan to locally assemble Google Chromebooks, making them more affordable for educational purposes. The goal is to ensure that every student in the country has access to the latest classroom technology, which will enhance their learning experience.

Ultimately, Google’s collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Education aims to bring about a massive digital transformation of Pakistan’s education system, creating smart classrooms and fostering a healthy education ecosystem. The two partners will work together to empower educators and students, focusing on upskilling, training, and building resilient smart classrooms.

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has emphasized the need for such initiatives and said, “The work Google has been doing in the education sector is highly commendable, and we are here to support its efforts in Pakistan.” He also expressed a strong interest in expanding the collaboration between Google and the Government of Pakistan and requested the Ministry of Federal Education & Professional and the Ministry of IT & Telecom to work closely to identify mutually beneficial synergies.”

Dr. Khalid Maqbool Sidiqqui, Federal Minister of Education and Professional Training, said, “The partnership with Google for Education is a significant step forward in our efforts to provide quality education to all children in Pakistan. “We believe that technology can play a vital role in improving learning outcomes and preparing our students for the future.”

Farhan S. Qureshi, Country Director, Google Pakistan, says: “This partnership has the potential to transform education in Pakistan for the better, providing millions of students with access to education and digital tools that enable them to better learn and also, local assembly of more than 500,000 Chromebooks will help Pakistan’s manufacturing industry grow and attract more investment in technology.

Kevin Kells, Managing Director, Google for Education, adds: “Google for Education offers powerful tools that can help learners develop some of the key skills they need to thrive. Basic Literacy and including advanced digital and AI skills. We are also proud to support the government’s mission to connect Pakistani youth – including out-of-school children – with high-quality learning opportunities , Google Classroom and Workspace for Education will help teachers have a greater impact on their students.