Building back better: preparing and supporting teachers to address the learning crisis; technical paper

This background paper has been commissioned by UNESCO Bangkok and the convening partners to facilitate discussions on teacher education and professional development at the primary and secondary education levels. The participating Member States will deliberate priorities and plans for teachers in their post-COVID-19 learning recovery and reconstruction efforts during the conference. Drawing on existing studies and reports, the paper focuses on the following issues in the Asia-Pacific region: 1) Overview of the teaching profession and the impact of the learning crisis and COVID-19 pandemic on teachers; 2) Promising policies and practices to strengthen teachers’ competencies and performance for the post-COVID-19 learning recovery and reform; 3) Teacher competencies required for learning recovery (including assessment of learning levels, identification of learning loss and recuperation), addressing the learning crisis, teaching in digital and hybrid environments, optimizing governance and leadership and enhancing teachers’ well-being; and 4) Recommendations for preparing and supporting teachers for learning recovery, addressing the learning crisis and for education in the new normal and for the future. While other important issues related to teachers - salaries, working conditions, recruitment, deployment, and so on - need equal attention and discussion, this paper specifically focuses on issues related to teacher education and professional development. Particular attention has also been given to spotlight teachers in non-formal education (NFE) settings since they are often overlooked, or receive minimal consideration, in national education policies and teacher professionalization plans.