KARACHI: Fahd Haroon, Minister of State and Special Assistant to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Public Communication and Digital Platforms, delivered a keynote speech at the Microsoft Edu Day event, highlighting the crucial role of technology in education. The event showcased Microsoft's contributions to the education sector and underscored the successful implementation of remote learning models in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Edu Day event was jointly organized by the Higher Education Commission (HEC), Microsoft, and other stakeholders.
Microsoft Edu Day is an annual event held in collaboration with educational institutions and Microsoft. It serves as a platform to demonstrate the transformative power of technology in enriching teaching and learning experiences. The event focuses on promoting digital literacy, fostering innovation, and encouraging collaboration in education, with a particular emphasis on addressing the challenges and opportunities brought forth by the digital era.
During his speech, Fahd Haroon emphasized the significance of technology in enhancing education. He acknowledged that while digital transformation in education remains a challenge in many countries, the advent of digital learning necessitates cooperation among government leaders, curriculum publishers, equipment manufacturers, technology providers, and service organizations. The alignment of these stakeholders is essential to enable comprehensive change and fully unleash the potential of technology in education.
Fahd Haroon commended Microsoft's active involvement in promoting digital literacy and integrating technology in education, both globally and within Pakistan. He expressed pride in the resilience shown by K-12 institutions in Pakistan, as they rose to the challenge of transitioning to online education by utilizing the Microsoft Remote and Blended Learning Platform.
Furthermore, Fahd Haroon recognized the exceptional engagement and contributions of universities, colleges, public schools, and private chains across Pakistan. He discussed the transformative measures implemented to ensure that students did not fall behind during the Covid-19 pandemic. Through collaboration with Microsoft, institutions in Pakistan swiftly adapted to new technologies, devising strategies, resources, and solutions to establish online classrooms that facilitated seamless connections and enhanced learning experiences for students, teachers, and faculty.=
The Minister of State/SAPM also highlighted the remarkable achievements in digital transformation observed in Sindh. Notably, universities such as IBA, Agha Khan, and DUHS underwent extensive digital transformations, leading to increased efficiency in their systems and processes. Government departments like SELD and SEF played instrumental roles in transitioning approximately 700,000 teachers and students to hybrid learning models when the COVID-19 crisis presented unprecedented challenges.
