This page explores education and development through various events. Whether you're interested in the impact of technology in accelerating access to education, teacher training, or global education systems, our live-streamed events provide insights and engagement opportunities. Explore key issues like government investment in education, the use of digital tools, and the influence of socio-economic factors on learning.
Why is Education Important?
Education is a human right, a powerful driver of development, and one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty and improving health, gender equality, peace, and stability. Making smart and effective investments in people’s education is critical for developing the human capital that will end extreme poverty. Investing in education systems delivers large, consistent returns in terms of income, and is the most crucial factor to ensure equity and inclusion.
When governments invest in quality education, people can take on the jobs of today, create employment opportunities of the future, and devise innovative solutions to global issues like climate change and food scarcity. Investing in people’s skills, technical and vocational training, and knowledge – their human capital – can create an agile workforce that can adapt to global shifts like technological transformation and Artificial Intelligence (AI).
How is the World Bank Addressing the Global Learning Crisis?
The effects of COVID-19 school closures are expected to be long-lasting. Education statistics and data have revealed deep losses, with international reading scores declining from 2016 to 2021 by more than a year of schooling. These losses may translate to a 0.68 percentage point in global GDP (Gross Domestic Product) growth. This generation of children could lose a combined total of US$21 trillion in lifetime earnings in present value or the equivalent of 17% of today’s global GDP.
The World Bank’s global education strategy is centered on ensuring learning happens – for everyone, everywhere. Everyone should have educational opportunities to achieve her or his full potential with access to a quality education and lifelong learning. The World Bank, IDA, IFC, and MIGA are helping countries build strong education systems so that young children gain foundational skills like literacy, numeracy, and social emotional learning (SEL) – the building blocks for all other learning. From early childhood to tertiary education and beyond – children and youth must acquire the skills they need to thrive in school, the labor market and throughout their lives. Girls’ education, inclusion of all, and education in fragile contexts is also a priority for the World Bank.
Governments can meet the ambitions of SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) 4 by partnering with the World Bank Group to implement Learning Acceleration Programs to get children back to school, recover lost learning, and build equitable and resilient education systems.
Why should governments prioritize investments in education?
Recovering from the learning crisis must be a political priority, backed with adequate financing and educational policy reforms. Domestic financing for education over the last two years has not kept pace with the need to recover and accelerate learning. Across low- and lower-middle-income countries, the average share of education in government budgets fell during the pandemic, and in 2022 it remained below 2019 levels.
In a time of fiscal pressure, protecting spending that yields long-run gains – like spending on education – will maximize impact. Closing the learning gap will require increasing the level, efficiency, and equity of education spending—spending smarter is an imperative. Edtech can be a powerful tool to implement these actions by supporting teachers, children, principals, and parents; expanding accessible digital learning platforms, including radio, TV, online learning resources; and using data to identify and help at-risk children, personalize learning, and improve service delivery.
Watch live events to answer questions like:
How can we improve learning outcomes? How can teacher training impact learning outcomes? How can countries ensure children are learning how to read and acquiring foundational learning skills? How can education systems prepare people with the skills and vocational training they need for the jobs of the future? How should governments invest in education? How can governments prioritize education financing? What learning standards should schools and students meet? How can teacher training impact learning outcomes? How can educational technology and digital tools be used in classrooms? What is the role of ICT and technology in schools? How can Artificial Intelligence (AI) support teachers? How does poverty affect education? How can we mainstream climate education and invest in green skills? How can education support refugees and prevent violent conflict? Which are the best countries in terms of education? Which country has the best university? Which country has the best education system?
Engage with Subject Matter Experts
Our livestreamed education events provide the opportunity to engage with global leaders and experts from governments, UN system, MDBs (Multilateral Development Banks), the public and private sectors, foundations, philanthropies, academia, think-tanks, CSOs (civil society organizations), NGOs, youth organizations, parent teacher associations (PTAs), the media, and influencers as they discuss education policies, reforms, best practices, and solutions to help countries meet their sustainable development objectives and end learning poverty.
Find More Resources
Learn more at worldbank.org/education and follow @WBG_Education.
