The ongoing Coronavirus pandemic brought about an unprecedented change in how systems and institutions work around the globe. Education in particular has been impacted greatly by the current global health crisis, UNICEF estimates that 1.6 billion children around the globe are unable to attend school. This unique challenge meant there was a need for equally unique solutions. The Ministry of Information and Technology in partnership with National Incubation Center Karachi and Ignite – National Technology Fund hosted the National Education Challenge 2020 to search for the most innovative education solutions from across the country. With the support of LMKT, NED University, HBL, PTCL and PPAF the National Education Challenge 2020 was officially launched on the 18th of June.
150 edtech startups applied from all over Pakistan to be a part of the Challenge, which were narrowed down to 25 semifinalists. After intense scrutiny and judging by panelists with expertise in a multitude of subject areas, 10 participants were chosen for the grand finale. Out of the 10, 3 participants went on to win seed funding to help their startups grow and become better equipped to take on the global crisis at hand. Taleemabad, a startup that aims to bridge the primary education gap in the country through engaging high quality educational content, came out on top and was awarded Rs. 1.5 million in funding. The first runner up Halla Gulla and second runner up Nativ Learning went on to win Rs. 1 million and Rs. 0.5 million respectively.
The National Education Challenge 2020 was more than just a competition, there was a distinct focus on helping all participants grow as innovators and businesses. The 25 semifinalists were paired with relevant industry experts in order to receive mentorship. The participants also took part in the Hack the Future Talks where they received training to help them maximize their potential.
In a message to the participants, Director NIC Karachi Shahjahan Chaudhaury, stressed the importance of applying critical and creative thinking to technologies and solutions to mitigate the effects of the pandemic.
As the effects of the pandemic continue to unravel, the National Education Challenge 2020 was a step in the right direction in identifying possible edtech solutions that could go on to outlast the pandemic and become permanent fixtures in the future of education within the country.