The role of EdTech in addressing barriers to education in the MENA region
In February 2024, the World Economic Forum estimated that global expenditure on education are “set to hit US$10 trillion by 2030.” As the sector grows, education technology (“EdTech”), the use of technology by educators and students to enhance learning outcomes and access to education, is critical. The EdTech industry is growing rapidly, valued at nearly US$123.4 billion in 2022 with an annual projected growth rate of 13% until 2030.
Interest in EdTech is increasing in the MENA region. Primary incentives include improving learning outcomes to drive economic growth and bridging gaps during times of disruption, such as contexts of forced migration. Such technological adaptation demonstrates the potential for a transition towards greater incorporation of technology in educational systems.
Online learning platform Ostaz is working to improve learning outcomes by making education accessible and creating job opportunities for teachers. Through a mobile app, Ostaz connects K-12 students to private tutors for support on all school subjects and standardized test preparation. First launched in Lebanon, Ostaz offers its services in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, Oman, and Kuwait, adhering to national and international curricula. For teachers, Ostaz offers remote working opportunities and a supplementary source of income. Beyond tutoring, Ostaz also leverages Artificial Intelligence for three services: a smart college search platform that assists high school students identify target universities, a cover letter assistant to help with job applications, and a platform that creates customized study plans. The success of Ostaz across the region is a testament to the value of technology as a complement to traditional education methods.
Virtual platforms are also being leveraged to reach students whose educations were disrupted by forced migration; in 2023, 44% of school-aged refugee children in Lebanon did not attend school. A number of EdTech solutions have been pursued to address this obstacle, and in November 2020, a UAE-based platform, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives’s The Digital School, launched to provide accredited, Arabic-language online education to students in underserved communities. The school targeted 20,000 students in five countries in its first year, including students in the Emirati-Jordanian Mrajeeb Al Fhood Camp. The Digital School aims to reach one million students by 2026.
Provided students and teachers are able to access internet connections, devices, and appropriate training on the use of these tools, there is ample opportunity to leverage EdTech to fill gaps in education delivery and access, mitigate disruptions, and improve learning outcomes. Initiatives established out of necessity during times of need are a testament to the potential that exists for widespread integration of digital tools to bridge gaps and ease inequalities in education access.
