Edtech and its roadmap to new realities

Edtech and its roadmap to new realities

Wamda hosted an online panel discussion in collaboration with Columbia Global Centers Amman, to address the future of education in the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) region and globally in light of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The webinar, "Edtech and its roadmap to new realities“, featured Safwan Masri, professor and executive vice-president for Global Centers and Global Development at Columbia University and Mounira Jamjooom, founder and chief executive officer at Saudi Arabia-based edtech startup Aanaab and Fadi Ghandour, executive chairman at Wamda. 

Overnight Changes

As the Coronavirus swept across the world, forcing people into lockdown, schools and universities were among the first institutions to close their doors. According to UNESCO 80 per cent of the world's student population, about 1.4 billion learners, stayed at home where they attempted to continue their education.

Schools and universities that had invested in the technological infrastructure had the means to provide distance and online learning. Those with the budgets turned to education technology, and the winners, particularly in the Middle East were the edtech startups that had previously faced difficulties in raising investment.

Back in 2017, just $2 million was invested in edtech startups in Mena. So far this year, some $23 million has been raised according to Wamda