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Sustainable development

Strengthening Education Systems in Asia and the Pacific: A New Path Forward

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Governments and stakeholders in Asia and the Pacific are urged to implement far-reaching reforms to strengthen the resilience of education and training systems in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. A new guidance note from the Asian Development Bank (ADB) outlines the need for critical policy reforms and concrete actions to improve the quality, relevance, and inclusion of education systems. The note emphasizes the importance of prioritizing education in recovery efforts, as it is a critical driver of human capital and economic growth.

Key Takeaways:

  • The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted education systems worldwide, affecting an estimated 1.7 billion students through school closures.
  • The Asian Development Bank (ADB) guidance note, "COVID-19 and Education in Asia and the Pacific," calls for developing countries to identify critical policy reforms, such as revamping teacher professional development.
  • The note advocates for expanding access to affordable and reliable internet connectivity for households and education and training institutions to address inequalities in digital access.
  • Big data can improve teachers' ability to assess students and introduce greater transparency and accountability by linking education delivery with learning data.
  • Governments must prioritize education budgets to protect the sector from budget cuts and ensure a resilient recovery.
  • Investing in reskilling and upskilling of workers who lost jobs during the pandemic will play a critical role in accelerating economic recovery.
  • The ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while eradicating extreme poverty.

Statistics:

  • 1.7 billion students worldwide have been affected by school closures due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
  • 68 member countries own the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
  • 49 member countries from the region own the ADB.
  • 2021 is the year for which copyright information is available.

Sources:

  • A new guidance note from theAsian Development Bank (ADB) titled "COVID-19 and Education in Asia and the Pacific."
  • The ADB Sustainable Development and Climate Change Department, led by Chief Sector Officer Robert Guild.
  • The ADB Education Sector Group, led by Chief Brajesh Panth.

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