Across the world, most governments have temporarily closed educational institutions in an attempt to contain the spread of the COVID-19 virus. At present, UNESCO estimates that these nationwide closures are impacting over 90% of the world’s student population.
But in Abu Dhabi the challenge is becoming an opportunity, with EduTech players and the country’s top schools stepping up to the plate to provide new, innovative solutions for distance learning and even AI-driven tailored instruction. Education providers are also upping their offerings in areas such as respiratory care to satisfy new demand, while counselling professionals are tackling the impact lockdown can have on mental health.
But Abu Dhabi was not caught unaware; it has invested considerably in smart learning over the last decade, helping to give it an edge today. This allowed the Emirate to announce quick and effective lockdowns, safe in the knowledge that education would not suffer substantially.
As the world now ponders a way out of lockdown, the lessons Abu Dhabi has learnt will allow us to continue to respond quickly to change, as well as disseminate solutions around the world and to remote locations, where EdTech could truly transform societies.