Pakistan, Sept. 1 -- The genesis of educational technology commonly referred to as "EdTech" can be traced to the pandemic of 2020. Social distancing protocols had forced schools to close down, and teaching was shifted from in-person to online mode, with children brandishing handheld screens. Parents accepted this as a temporary emergency measure which was to ensure continuity of academic pursuits during the pandemic. The situation changed, schools reopened, but the screens didn't close. The schools had already signed long-term contracts with technology companies, granting them a permanent place inside the classroom.

The business model behind this shift seems familiar. It is the same model used by social media and smartphone apps: draw us...