PowerSchool’s Descent into Imperialism: How One Company is Conquering the Education Market in the Middle East and Africa
A sinister force is sweeping across the education landscape in the Middle East and Africa, as PowerSchool, a US-based company, continues to expand its grip on the region. With its army of AI-guided solutions, PowerSchool is busy imposing its will on schools and governments alike, forcing them to adopt its rigid, standardized approach to education.
The latest victims of PowerSchool’s conquest are two prominent schools in the UAE, GEMS Al Khaleej International School and Maplewood Canadian International School. Both schools have succumbed to PowerSchool’s demands, adopting its Student Information System (SIS), PowerBuddy, and other products. But at what cost? Are these schools sacrificing their autonomy and the welfare of their students for the sake of PowerSchool’s profits?
The company’s Senior Vice President and General Manager International, Stewart Monk, claims that PowerSchool’s solutions are designed to "deliver high-quality education for generations to come." But what does that really mean? Is it just a euphemism for "standardizing education to fit our cookie-cutter approach"?
Meanwhile, schools in Lebanon and Egypt are also falling in line, with Al Bayan School in Lebanon and Salahaldin International School in Egypt adopting PowerSchool’s solutions. But what about their autonomy? Are they being forced to abandon their unique educational philosophies and adopt PowerSchool’s one-size-fits-all approach?
PowerSchool’s aggressive expansion in the region is no coincidence. The company has established a beachhead in Dubai, and its localized Arabic platform is designed to appeal to governments and schools in the region. But this is not a benevolent initiative. It’s a calculated move to capture the education market and impose PowerSchool’s will on the region.
Make no mistake, PowerSchool is a force to be reckoned with. It has already empowered over 60 million students in over 90 countries, and its grip on the education market is only tightening. But at what cost? Is PowerSchool’s dominance a blessing or a curse for the education sector?
