OUR RESEARCH PORTFOLIO
For over two decades, the LEAPS team has conducted transformational research to identify and address the market frictions that limit student learning in Pakistan. By targeting systemic challenges—including gaps in information, financing, labor, and service delivery—we’ve shown that meaningful improvements in education productivity are possible.
The LEAPS dataset has become one of the most valuable education research resources in South Asia, supporting over 40 innovative studies and more than 30 publications and working papers. Our work explores the entire educational journey—from household decision-making and classroom instruction to school competition and long-term life outcomes.
We organize our research into six key themes that reflect the complexities of the education landscape and the many forces shaping learning in Pakistan.
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
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