Technology lights up learning in northern Pakistan by Hannah Denys
In many parts of the world , it ’ s unthinkable to have a classroom without technology . Lessons are projected onto smartboards where students can manipulate the information from their desks , cuttingedge calculators perform advanced equations , and children learn to code in high-tech computer labs .
Yet , in parts of northern Pakistan , technology is still rare . Many schools in these isolated , mountain villages don ’ t even have electricity . And because they never learn how to turn on a computer , use a smartphone , or search the web — basic tasks in today ’ s tech-savvy world — hundreds of thousands of Pakistani children are being left behind .
But the good news is , Central Asia Institute is determined to help these kids and their communities catch up .
TURNING THE CLASSROOM LIGHTS ON
Arando village is the last human settlement in northern Pakistan ’ s Basho Valley . Heavy snowfall , avalanches , and washed-out roads can cut the village off from the rest of the world for up to seven months at a time . Despite the harsh conditions , 180 families eke out a living in this high-mountain wilderness , farming and raising livestock to stay alive .
Without a school , Arando had the highest number of out-of-school girls in the district for many years . That changed in 2021 , when CAI established a community-based school in the town . But since power lines couldn ’ t reach the village , there was no electricity , so students struggled to read their papers and see the blackboard .
Fortunately , CAI donors came to the rescue . With their support , CAI was able to bring electricity to the school through a small solar array that was connected to the school building . Students can now read their lessons in the bright classroom without squinting in the darkness . Everyone in the community is excited about what this means for the future . “ Now our girls can get an education and become teachers , doctors , and engineers ,” said one father , Mehdi Ali .
Arando was one of six isolated mountain villages to receive solar power thanks to the support of CAI donors . An additional 13 schools received battery-powered generators . These schools have sporadic access to power , so the batteries charge while the electricity is flowing — typically just three or four hours a day . Then , the batteries are used to light the classrooms during power outages .
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