Smart schools: Google unveils new education plans for Pakistan

US tech giant Google has unveiled new education plans under which 50 smart schools will be established in Pakistan's federal capital — Islamabad.

The Google for Education team, alongside its local partner Tech Valley, recently convened with the Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training to present forthcoming plans for Pakistan’s education sector.

Some 50 smart schools in Islamabad will be equipped with 30,000 Google for Education IDs which include features, powered by AI, like practice sets and a suite of digital tools for enhanced collaboration and productivity, the state news agency reported.

During the meeting, discussions extended to several upcoming initiatives, including teacher workshops on Google for Education tools, the establishment of a public Google Reference School, the training of 2,000 youths in job-ready skills through Google Career Certificates, and the potential collaboration on hosting an Edutech event with the Ministry of Federal Education in Pakistan.

In March, the US tech giant reaffirmed on International Women’s Day its dedication to empowering them further with the belief that by equipping women with the skills and resources they need, the country can unlock a future filled with greater equality, inclusion, and prosperity for all.

Google also recognised the incredible potential and aims to bridge these gaps by launching several programmes to help drive stronger equality and the empowerment of women in the workforce. One such example is the Google Career Certificates programme, launched in Pakistan in 2022.

At least 50% of the programme scholarships were allocated exclusively for women, in order to increase women's access to economic opportunities and enable them to pursue their aspirations. The programme awarded 44,500 scholarships in 2023 and has committed 45,000 new scholarships for 2024 to empower more learners.

The Google News Initiative (GNI), with the support of its local partners, also trained young journalists, providing opportunities for women to gain reporting experience, and addressing the accessibility of newsrooms.