Page 51 - SAMENA Trends - May 2020

REGIONAL & MEMBERS UPDATES SAMENA TRENDS

increase in the use of social media by the settings was 67%. Internet were electronic services related to
individuals to reach 95% compared to 92% Social Media travel and hotel reservation by 25%.
in 2019. The results of the survey also The survey results indicated a noticeable Reasons for not using the Internet:
concluded that the percentage of Internet increase in the percentage of social media In addition to identifying indicators of
use among females was 97% compared to users compared to the results of the 2019 access to and use of technology, the survey
94% among males. As for the age groups, survey; whereas the percentage of Imo app, sought to identify the reasons for not using
the total age group of 18-54 years exceed forums, and blogs users decreased. Based the Internet in the past three months, as
the rate of Internet use by 90%, while the on the results, WhatsApp app came first in the results show that the most important
percentage of use by the age group 55 terms of usage by 92%, followed by You- of these reasons were inability to read and
years and above is only 80%; however, Tube with 81%, then Facebook with 56%, write by 38% of the total individuals who do
the percentage of use among Omanis and followed by Imo by 47%, then Instagram by not use the Internet, followed by inability to
expats is 95% equally. 44%, while the use of Twitter reached 25%, use the internet 31% and no need to use
ICT Activities followed by Snapchat by 24 %. the internet at the same rate.
The results of the survey showed good Internet Activities: Respondents' notes:
levels of activities using information and The activities on Internet have witnessed The survey also came out with a number
communication technologies by any de- a rise in the areas of research, doing of respondents' observations, the most
vice, as it showed that about 92% of indi- business and obtaining information and important of which were, weak Internet
viduals aged 18 years and above have the services. The results indicate that 77% coverage in some residential areas in the
ability to send messages, whether through of Internet users search and download various governorates of the sultanate, and
e-mail, WhatsApp or SMS. The percentage files, videos, pictures, electronic games, the respondents expressed their opinion
of using cutting and pasting tools reached and others. At the same rate (77%) of about the high prices of Internet packages
84%, while the use of searching for, down- respondents use the Internet to search for and the lack of Internet in a number of the
loading or installing software, or adjusting information. While the lowest uses of the wilayats of the sultanate.

Pakistan Plans US$18.8 Million STEM Schools Project

Pakistan will be launching a Rs. 3 billion
STEM schools project this year, aimed
at promoting digital education in the
country. Speaking at an international
webinar “Future of (online) education in
Pakistan”, Federal Minister for Science and
Technology Fawad Chaudhry said that the
project aimed at bringing STEM schools
for grades six, seven, and eight, adding
that the project would be the first of its
kind in Pakistan. “This year, we abstracted
464 schools at the federal level from all
the provinces that we are turning into a
STEM school,” the minister for science
and technology said. Chaudhry said digital
education was the only way forward for already working on establishing digital the discussion, Omar Farooqui, founder
securing a bright future for the country. “We education in the country way before the and the President of Coded Minds, said
want to take up about 5,000 government COVID-19 crisis. Speaking on the subject, COVID-19 gave an excellent opportunity
schools. We want to upgrade them as a Dr. Ahsan Feroz of Pakistan Science to strengthen public-private partnerships.
STEM schools,” he said. “Digital education Foundation, currently working on the STEM He said that his company opted to start
is the future of Pakistan.” The webinar school project, said the project was in the operations in Pakistan not just because
was organized by Coded Minds Pakistan, approval stage. “As soon as the budget there was a huge opportunity to work on
a global iSTEAM and leadership company. is approved, we will immediately start education, but also because there was
Local and international education experts working on the project,” he added. Punjab support from the government at every
participated in the webinar to discuss the Education Minister Murad Rass said level.
future of online education in Pakistan. access to internet was a major challenge
According to Chaudhry, his ministry was in promoting online education. Concluding

51 MAY 2020