Navigating the New Normal: Strengthening Education and Counselling through Technology in Underprivileged Pakistani Schools

This study explores the impact of COVID-19 on underprivileged schools in Pakistan, focusing on how they managed education during lockdowns, the adaptations introduced, and their preparedness for future crises. Using purposive sampling, data was collected through semi structured interviews, observations, and focus groups. Six principals and thirty-six teachers from six schools were interviewed, alongside five student focus groups of 8–12 participants each. Findings revealed that the pandemic severely disrupted education and emphasized the urgent need to integrate technology for sustaining learning in marginalized contexts. Despite some digital awareness, limited resources and lack of availability of technology hindered adoption of remote learning. The study also identified significant counselling and psychosocial support needs among students, particularly related to anxiety, demotivation, and isolation, with low-cost interventions offering partial solutions. Overall, the research underscores that unless technology is systematically embedded and students are equipped with digital skills, educational continuity and effective counselling in underprivileged schools will remain out of reach