Exploring Education from the Ground Up
From homes to classrooms — we study the full learning journey.
One of South Asia’s richest datasets, powering 40+ innovative studies.
Real problems, real impact — we target the barriers that hold students back.
Evidence that matters, with 30+ publications shaping policy and practice.
Six core research themes reflect the complexity of education systems.
Explore our Research by Themes
Or visit our publications page for a complete list of papers and working papers
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Teachers & Workforce
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Schools & Choice
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Instruction & EdTech
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Families, Gender & Access
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Learning Progress & Life Outcomes
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Education Ecosystems & School Markets
Explore our Research by Focus Areas
Or visit our publications page for a complete list of papers and working papers
Why Our Research Stands Out
At LEAPS, our research is guided by clear values and a deep commitment to improving education systems in meaningful, measurable ways.
🌀 Systems, Not Silos
We examine education as a whole — exploring the connections between schools, teachers, families, technology, and policy. We always ask: What works, where, and why?
🔍 We Research What Matters
Our questions are rooted in the lived realities of learners, teachers, and communities. We listen first and build knowledge that’s relevant and responsive.
🧪 We Find What Works
Using state-of-the-art methods, we go beyond surface-level associations to discover real causal effects — helping leaders invest in proven solutions.
💡 Invest in Impact
We see education as an investment in futures, not just a service. Our research drives smarter, outcome-oriented funding and system design.
Teachers & Workforce
Teacher pay
Teacher performance evaluation
Recruitment and retention
Gender and social identity
Teacher training pipelines
Examining how teachers are recruited, compensated, evaluated, and supported to drive better classroom outcomes.
Research Themes
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Teachers & Workforce
Examining how teachers are recruited, compensated, evaluated, and supported to drive better classroom outcomes.
Key topics:
— Teacher pay
— Teacher performance evaluation
— Recruitment and retention
— Gender and social identity
— Teacher training pipelines -
Schools & Choice
How schools respond to demand, compete for students, and make investments in quality and innovation.
Key topics:
— Public vs private schools
— School competition
— Parental school choice
— Village-level school supply
— School performance measurement -
Families, Gender & Access
Understanding how gender roles, home dynamics, and parental decision-making shape educational opportunity—particularly for girls.
Key topics:
— Girls’ education
— Home responsibilities
— Parental beliefs
— Intergenerational education
— Education demand -
Instruction & EdTech
How instructional methods and education technology can accelerate learning and scale up quality teaching.
Key topics:
— Targeted instruction
— Foundational literacy and numeracy (FLN)
— EdTech tools
— Remedial learning
— Education support systems -
Learning Progress & Life Outcomes
Tracking how education shapes students’ skills, assessments, and long-term outcomes in work and life.
Key topics:
— Learning trajectories
— Test scores and assessments
— Education disruptions (e.g. COVID-19)
— Skill development
— Labor market outcomes -
Education Ecosystems & School Markets
A system-wide view of how education institutions, households, and markets interact across Pakistan’s education landscape.
Key topics:
— Private school growth
— Religious schools
— Private tuition
— School-to-work transitions
— Longitudinal education data