The critical policy roundtable, convened at the Aga Khan University (AKU) on 4th August 2025, underscored a unified commitment to embedding field-based research evidence directly into educational reforms.
Prominent educationists, researchers, and policymakers from Sindh emphasised the critical need to cultivate a culture of data utilisation within the education sector, ensuring effective policymaking, particularly for enhancing the quality of learning for all children, with a special focus on marginalised communities.
Part of the Data and Research in Education – Research Consortium (DARE-RC), funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), the event focused on integrating rigorous research insights with the province’s education priorities.
The discussions across key themes, including Equitable Access and Inclusion, Strengthening Frontline Education Provision, Building Climate Resilient Education Systems, and Governance, Management, and Effective Data Use, will directly inform targeted policy development. This collaborative effort will also shape Sindh’s upcoming education sector plan, translating research findings into tangible policy actions. The DARE-RC consortium affirmed its ongoing engagement with Sindh’s education sector, ensuring that evidence continuously informs policy.
Dr Farid Panjwani, Dean of the AKU Institute for Educational Development in Pakistan (IED, PK), highlighted the need for informed steps based on field-based evidence for educational reforms. “Research based evidence is a necessary though not sufficient ingredient of policy making. The DARE- RC project is designed to strengthen sound evidence. The most important feature of the project is that all the research ideas are field based, rather than top down. The 18 studies in Sindh offer empirically validated pathways to improve learning outcomes, and we urge stakeholders to leverage these insights for systemic change.”
Dr Ehtasham Anwar, Team Lead, DARE-RC, said, “DARE-RC is honoured to be the largest and first-of-its-kind initiative in Pakistan, where research will inform decision-making in a sector as important as education, the lifeline of the country.”
Richard Yates, Deputy Head of Mission, British Deputy High Commision, Karachi said: “Education Is vitally important for the development of individuals but also for countries and UK government is pleased to support education through this Programme.”
The event, jointly organised by Oxford Policy Management (OPM), Aga Khan University Institute for Educational Development, and Sightsavers marks a significant step towards a more evidence-based and equitable education system in Sindh.
