Interview with Arshad Anis - President, Teach the World Foundation: ‘We, as a country, do not have the luxury of time anymore’

In an interview published by Business Recorder, Arshad Anis, President of Teach the World Foundation (TTWF), said Pakistan no longer has time to delay action on education. He said the country has the largest number of out of school children in the world, with more than 26 million, and that conventional schooling alone cannot close the gap. Anis also serves as Chairman of The Searle Company Limited, a role he took up in January 2026.

The foundation's Digital MicroSchools initiative puts tablets with interactive, gamified courses in communities without nearby schools, powered by solar energy. Local women are employed as facilitators, which Anis said builds community involvement and a sense of ownership. He added that over 25,000 children are now studying in these micro schools, while about 6,000 students who graduated in the last 18 months have moved into secondary schools, vocational centres or apprenticeships.

Anis said public-private partnerships are essential, pointing to around 250 micro schools already set up with the Sindh Education Foundation, a subsidiary of the Sindh Government. Another 300 schools are likely to be established within 12 months, and TTWF is also seeking private sector partners to extend the model across Pakistan.