Data, Inclusion, and Resilience: Advancing Equity in Pakistan’s Education Systems Through Evidence

On 28 November 2025, the LUMS School of Education (SOE), in collaboration with DARE-RC, hosted Round 2 of 6 of its policy dialogue series in Lahore. The session brought together government representatives, educationalists, researchers, and development partners to discuss how evidence and disability-inclusive data can support more equitable and resilient education systems across Pakistan.

The dialogue opened with remarks from Mr Salim Salamah, Deputy Head (Health, Education, Democracy) at the British High Commission, who emphasized the importance of building a research system and a community of practice connecting policymakers and academics. Prof Dr Tayyaba Tamim, Dean SOE, highlighted Pakistan’s climate vulnerabilities and stressed that resilience and inclusion are only possible when grounded in robust, high-quality data. Ms Saima Anwar, Programme Director DARE-RC, reflected on the need to sustain this community of practice beyond the programme’s lifecycle, particularly following Pakistan’s recent education emergency.

Key presentations included:

• Dr Farah Nadeem – Predictive Modelling of Policy Impact on School Enrolment, highlighting economic barriers to school access
• Dr Zahid Majeed & Dr Sapana Basnet – Community-Based Participatory Research and Adolescent Resilience in urban and rural Pakistan
• Iftaq Khaliq Khan & Dr Julia de Kadt – Disability-Inclusive Data Systems and the integration of the Washington Group Questions into Pakistan’s Annual School Census

The session concluded with a panel discussion featuring Dr Farah Said, Dr Faisal Bari, and Dr Razia Sadik, who emphasized that data tools must be dynamic and decision-friendly. They highlighted the importance of cross-sectoral approaches to address climate-related disruptions, which disproportionately affect marginalised learners, and stressed that social protection and school safety policies must complement educational planning.
 

The dialogue reaffirmed DARE-RC’s commitment to advancing evidence-informed policymaking. Through this series, SOE and 

DARE-RC continue to bridge research, policy, and practice to ensure inclusive, equitable, and resilient learning opportunities for all children in Pakistan.