While studying Psychology in college, I discovered that gaining knowledge and sharing it with others gives me the highest level of satisfaction. This realization made ‘Education’ my preferred choice of career. I pursued teacher training courses from Cambridge University to enter this field, equipped with the right skill set and qualification. My inspiration came from my parents. My mother’s compassion to help others instilled in me a desire to serve humanity and my father’s passion for his work taught me how to dedicate myself fully to my cause and never shy away from challenges. A fighter pilot by profession, my father was a pioneer in setting up the UAE Air Force Academy. I remember the pride he took in sharing his skills and knowledge with these young aspiring individuals so they could realize their dreams to serve their nation.

2. Tell us more about the organization you are associated to and how you have been assisting the prospects. Brief us about your services.

I am the founder of EduEnhance FZ LLC based in UAE. From the beginning of my teaching career, I have been supporting supplementary education for children and adults. In 2012, I had the opportunity to co-found a learning centre in Dubai where we aspired to offer children a true 21st century differentiated learning experience. We became the pioneers of blended learning in the gulf region. After offering thousands of children personalized learning and intervention, securing partnerships with schools and government entities and receiving promising feedback from students, we became a brand that was associated with excellence in blended learning and personalized instruction.

In 2019 I was offered to become the exclusive representative of Curriculum Associates in the MENA region, South Asia and Turkey. Curriculum Associates is an industry leader in EdTech solutions for personalized learning from the US. I incorporated EduEnhance FZ LLC in UAE and we now offer EdTech solutions, program implementation, training services and ongoing support to schools and learning centres in the region.

3. Please share your views on the current education landscape globally.

Since the pandemic started, it’s been heartening to see how educators have risen to the occasion and have pivoted completely to a new way of teaching and instruction. School closures caused by the pandemic were unprecedented. Nonetheless educators, students and parents took the challenge and within a couple of months became accustomed to the new way of learning. Although we have a long way to go, it can be safely stated that technology has been the saviour under these circumstances. Education policies and initiatives have to ensure that the negative effects of this disruption are minimized and education and learning of children do not suffer in the long run.

4. What’s the one thing you would change about the education system (nationally or globally)?

Due to the scope of my work I have the opportunity to work with schools in different countries and across different curricula. Overall it is encouraging to see the great strides the education sector is making in terms of improving education standards and learning outcomes. However, it is a work in progress. When we study education policies at a national level, we observe that the main objective is to increase student enrolments in schools, this is by all means is essential. Notwithstanding a critical aspect to improving education standards nationally and/or globally is to ensure that the quality of instruction and learning is also addressed and improved. I personally believe that the one-size-fits all approach in the education sector has to be re-visited as this may be the main cause of inequity in students’ learning. We do not have to confine all children to one way of learning. If at the foundational level we are able to make children motivated and engaged learners, we will be able to witness far more success in the subsequent years.

5. What challenges have you faced throughout the course of your career, and how have you tackled them?

My main challenges didn’t stem from regulatory or business development aspects. On the contrary my challenges have been more about changing mind-sets. On a professional level the extensive use of the technology in the classroom was a novel idea a decade ago when we made blended learning our core pedagogy. Parents and teachers had their respective concerns. However in no time our students, digital natives, as we called them, blossomed with this approach and their ability to absorb and retain information improved substantially. Teachers realized that technology can empower them to take on tasks that are otherwise humanly impossible. Fast forward to 2020, we now see how essential it is to harness the potential of technology and ensure that teachers and students make the most of this resource that seemed so intimidating in the past.

Another challenge that I faced professionally was changing mind-sets about race/nationality driven competency. When you work in a cosmopolitan environment, it is inevitable for generalizations to become the norm. In the education sector, I took it upon myself to educate potential employers and parents of students that it is important to enquire about the teachers’ qualifications, work experience and profile rather than forming your opinion on their competency based on their nationality.

On the personal front as a woman entrepreneur with long intensive working hours and a mother of three growing children, I’d often be quizzed on how I can keep the balance. My response was always simple. There was no formula to having the perfect balance however it was important for me that my children learn that it’s possible to follow your dreams and be there for your loved ones at the same time. If you own your responsibilities and decisions fully and try and do your best, it is alright if at times you falter and fall short of perfect. Eventually challenges make your life interesting and overcoming them makes it meaningful.

6. What would be your advice to those who wish to venture into the same field as yours?

I think everyone has to have their own journey and learn from their own experiences but I’d first like to offer my advice to the people who surround aspiring entrepreneurs. ‘Just be there for them…let them fly, let them explore their potential!’ I have no qualms in saying that my support system has been my family and I wouldn’t have made it half way through had it not been for their unrelenting support and unwavering confidence in me. To those who wish to venture into this field, ‘This is an exceptionally noble line of work. Whatever you do, do it with complete conviction and integrity. Become an expert in your field. Continue to learn and grow, remain inquisitive, stay humble, be mindful of your responsibilities, move with times and never say never!’

7. Where do you see yourself in the near future?

Currently we are all striving to make it through these unprecedented times but my resolve is to work on initiatives that offer a large-scale impact on the education landscape in developing countries. My focus now is on providing equity and equality in education across geographies starting from my country, Pakistan. Also empowering the education fraternity and introducing and implementing large-scale initiatives to ensure robust and sustainable education outcomes for every child. I live by the quote by Nelson Mandela ‘It is not beyond our power to create a world in which all children have access to a good education.’ I’m a strong advocate of this ideology as education is key to opening minds, bridging differences, facilitating human development and promising peace and prosperity for every nation.