In 2021, Pakistan’s education technology sector saw a pivotal transformation, spurred largely by the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the standout players was Taleemabad, an Urdu-language digital learning platform that rapidly gained national attention for bringing quality education to underserved populations. As traditional schools faced intermittent closures, the demand for localized, digital-first learning surged—and Taleemabad rose to the challenge.

Background: Pandemic-Driven Urgency

By early 2021, over 40 million students in Pakistan were affected by school closures. With an already fragile education system—where over 22.8 million children were out of school even before the pandemic (UNICEF, 2020)—the disruption posed a national crisis.

While elite schools in urban centers adopted Zoom and Google Classroom, students in rural and low-income communities lacked both infrastructure and access. This gap birthed opportunities for EdTech startups targeting accessibility and inclusivity.

The Rise of Taleemabad

Taleemabad, developed by Orenda, started as an animated YouTube channel but evolved into a comprehensive learning app aligned with the national curriculum. By 2021, it had over 1 million downloads, was endorsed by the Ministry of Federal Education, and featured content in both English and Urdu.

Key features included:

• Video lessons based on the Single National Curriculum (SNC)
• Quizzes and progress tracking for students and parents
• Offline accessibility, ideal for areas with low internet penetration
• Partnerships with telcos like Jazz to subsidize data use

The app's gamified interface, local language support, and curriculum alignment made it a popular tool among parents and educators alike.

Broadcast Integration: Taleemabad on TV

In collaboration with PTV (Pakistan Television) and the Federal Ministry of Education, Taleemabad’s content was broadcast on national television, reaching millions of homes without internet access. This expanded the app’s reach beyond smartphones to households across Punjab, Sindh, KP, and Balochistan.

This strategy mirrored global examples like India’s DIKSHA and Kenya’s eLimu, but Taleemabad’s focus on local language and storytelling made it uniquely Pakistani.

Funding and Growth

In 2021, Orenda secured $1.5 million in funding from global investors, including EdVentures (Egypt) and Tharros (US). The funding was earmarked for content expansion, teacher training tools, and integration with government schools.

Their business model evolved from free offerings to B2B and B2G (government) licensing, particularly for low-cost schools and community learning centers.

Impact on National EdTech Ecosystem

Taleemabad’s success catalyzed interest in Pakistan’s broader EdTech space. Other players such as Edkasa, Maqsad, and Knowledge Platform also experienced user growth, with increasing investor interest in local learning tools tailored to Pakistan’s context.

The pandemic became a forcing function, pushing policymakers, parents, and donors to recognize the role of digital tools in bridging learning gaps.

Challenges and Outlook

Despite its success, Taleemabad faced familiar hurdles:

Device inequality: Many households still lacked smartphones or shared one among several children.

Content depth: Higher grades, especially STEM subjects, needed more advanced digital content.

Monetization constraints: With limited consumer willingness to pay, reliance on donors or government contracts remained high.

However, with growing public-private partnerships and deeper integration with national curricula, 2021 marked a turning point. Taleemabad was no longer a niche app—it had become a national symbol of educational innovation.

References:

UNICEF Pakistan – Education and COVID-19 Brief

https://www.unicef.org/pakistan

Dawn News – Taleemabad’s partnership with PTV for distance learning

https://www.dawn.com/news/1620304

TechCrunch – Pakistan’s Taleemabad raises $1.5M to expand edtech reach

https://techcrunch.com

Orenda Learning – Official Website

https://www.orenda.pk