In mid-October, education leaders from across Pakistan converged for the School Leaders’ Conference, held by Oxford University Press Pakistan in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. In total, 85 representatives attended in Karachi, 105 in Lahore and 127 in Islamabad.
The event offered a platform for school principals and senior educators to reflect on current educational goals, tackle longstanding constraints and chart a roadmap for empowering learners in Pakistan.
Keynote presentations addressed vital themes such as academic attainment, gender equality, assessment frameworks and the need for clearly defined institutional priorities.
During round-table sessions, participants identified their key priorities and shared concrete, solution-oriented goals. They explored the importance of moving beyond outdated teaching paradigms, recognising the central role of quality textbooks, teacher-pedagogical expertise and access to technology in enabling student-centred learning.
Arshad Saeed Husain, Managing Director of Oxford University Press Pakistan, emphasised the organisation’s legacy of over 500 years and its commitment to high-quality academic and educational resources. He underscored the need for sustainable teaching and learning practices, a shift from print to blended models, and exploring the potential of AI in bridging Pakistan’s educational equity gap.
Dr. Penelope Woolf, Director of Impact and Learning Design, outlined how learning design principles—grounded in global frameworks, evidence-informed research and teaching best practice—are used to develop resources that embed holistic educational success.
The conference reaffirmed that despite the challenges Pakistan’s education system faces, there are significant opportunities to empower learners and drive meaningful impact. Attendees left with a clearer set of priorities and approaches aimed at positioning learners for future success.