Google, the US tech giant, is gearing up to establish 50 smart schools in Islamabad, Pakistan’s federal capital. Alongside this initiative, Google plans to roll out various projects aimed at enhancing education in the country, including teacher workshops, youth training through Google Career Certificates, and the establishment of a public Google Reference School.
In a recent meeting with the Secretary of the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training, the Google for Education team, in collaboration with its local partner Tech Valley, presented their upcoming plans for Pakistan’s education sector. These plans involve equipping 50 smart schools in Islamabad with 30,000 Google for Education IDs, featuring AI-powered tools such as practice sets and digital collaboration tools.
Furthermore, discussions during the meeting touched upon several forthcoming initiatives, including:
- Teacher workshops on Google for Education tools.
- The establishment of a public Google Reference School.
- Training of 2,000 youths in job-ready skills through Google Career Certificates.
- Potential collaboration on hosting an Edutech event with the Ministry of Federal Education.
In alignment with its commitment to empowering women, Google has reaffirmed its dedication on International Women’s Day. By providing women with skills and resources, Google aims to unlock a future marked by greater equality, inclusion, and prosperity for all. To this end, Google launched the Google Career Certificates program in Pakistan in 2022, with at least 50% of scholarships exclusively allocated for women. In 2023, the program awarded 44,500 scholarships, with an additional commitment of 45,000 scholarships for 2024.
Moreover, through the Google News Initiative (GNI), in collaboration with local partners, Google has been training young journalists, providing opportunities for women to gain reporting experience, and addressing the accessibility of newsrooms.
These initiatives by Google underscore its commitment to advancing education and empowering women in Pakistan, with the aim of fostering a more inclusive and prosperous society.
