Teachers play a critical role in improving learning. Beyond any other school-based factor, teacher effectiveness is the most important predictor of student learning.
But the world faces a shortage of teachers. According to UNESCO, 69 million teachers are needed to provide every child with primary and secondary education by 2030.
In addition, a large number of teachers don’t have the required knowledge or pedagogical skills to teach effectively, which ultimately affects children’s learning.
COVID-19 has placed unprecedented challenges on teachers as they have been forced to adapt their curriculum and support to students, while also learning new modes of distance teaching.
Supporting quality teaching is essential because it improves learning outcomes, reduces the number of out-of-school children, and puts students on the path to success.
GPE 2025 identifies quality teaching as a priority area and aims to invest in quality teachers and teaching in all partner countries.
GPE works with partner countries to ensure that every classroom has a qualified, motivated and well supported teacher who can unleash children’s learning potential.
Our results
GPE in action
GPE supports quality teaching through the following interventions:
Focused investments: For effective teaching to happen, teachers must have the right knowledge and skills as well as professional development opportunities. 91% of GPE implementation grants active in FY22 included support for teachers and teaching-related activities, such as in-service training, pre-service training, teacher coaching and mentoring, teacher management, and teaching tools such as teachers’ guides and other pedagogical resources. GPE also leverages the results-based portion of its grants to focus on innovative ways to support teachers and incentivize the delivery of critical policy reforms to address obstacles to effective teaching.
Better planning and data: GPE supports countries to invest in policies and programs that are grounded in evidence to support quality teachers and teaching. GPE supports diagnostics of teaching quality, including better data on teachers and teaching.
Empowering teachers: Given teachers’ ability to understand the local needs and context, they should actively participate in policy dialogue. GPE supports the engagement of teachers and their associations in sector planning and monitoring and encourages the inclusion of teacher organizations in local education groups.
Learn more about the role of teachers in the partnership Knowledge and Innovation Exchange (KIX): KIX investments provide opportunities for capacity development, research and innovative practices to help countries improve both the quality of teaching and the effectiveness of teachers. The KIX regional hubs encourage countries to learn from their peers on innovative approaches that have improved teaching standards and children’s learning. KIX support includes three global grants focused on teacher professional development as well as regional investments and exchange.