This study investigates the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on education in rural Pakistan and China, focusing on distance learning and educational inequality. Using the Situational Analysis Method (SAM), the study reveals that while Covid-19 led to increased distance learning in both countries, significant challenges remain, including inadequate technology access, poor internet connectivity, and teacher shortages. Rural Pakistan faces additional challenges such as unpreparedness for distance learning and increased teacher workloads, while rural China struggles with poor parental care due to migration. The study highlights the pre-existing inequalities exacerbated by the pandemic and suggests policy recommendations to address these issues.

Samina Zamir, Zhencun Wang