Published on July 23, 2026 – Updated on July 23, 2026

Just back from Pakistan, Rida Ali Khan talks about the RCT study on education and maths


Rida is back from a six-month stay in Pakistan, where she completed the first field visit for her research project, "Impact of Mental Math on Numerical Competency and Cognitive Abilities in Public Schools: A Randomized Controlled Trial."

The problem. Primary school children in Pakistan, especially in rural areas, struggle with foundational math skills. This isn't for lack of potential. It comes down to limited resources, challenging environments, weak infrastructure, and a shortage of trained teachers capable of teaching math effectively.

The idea. Could a simple, low-cost intervention training teachers in mental math techniques meaningfully improve numerical competency among young learners? Rida's project tests exactly that. Rather than relying on expensive materials or technology, the study focuses on equipping teachers themselves, making the approach both affordable and scalable.

Here's how the first phase unfolded:

  • A trainer delivered mental math training to teachers at selected public primary schools, equipping them to bring these methods directly into their classrooms.
  • The team collected baseline data on students' numerical competency and cognitive abilities, focusing on Class 3 and Class 4 students, giving a clear starting point for measuring impact.
  • Following the training, teachers rolled out the mental math intervention in their own classrooms, sharing photos of the process along the way.


This project is generously funded by J-PAL (MIT). It's designed to generate causal evidence on whether a scalable, teacher-focused intervention can move the needle on children's math outcomes in a context where resources for education are scarce.

What's next? With baseline data now collected and the intervention underway, the next phase will track how these mental math techniques affect students' numerical skills and cognitive development over time. This research project is supervised by Francesca Marchetta and Eric Roca Fernandez.

Grateful for the support of The Abdul Latif Jameel Poverty Action Lab (MIT). More to come as the data grows.