Dates and location: November 3–4, 2025, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Organizers: The World Bank, Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University (LSI@FSU), and UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA)
Background: Globally, there is a critical shortage of qualified teachers, with an estimated additional 44 million primary and secondary school teachers and 6 million preprimary teachers needed by 2030. High-quality initial teacher education (ITE) and continuous professional development (CPD) are crucial for addressing this challenge and ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all. This event aims to foster collaboration and knowledge sharing to improve teacher preparation and development worldwide.
Overall objective: To raise awareness and build coalitions for change to prepare and support sustainable cadres of talented and committed teachers, equipped to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
Themes:
1. Initial teacher education (ITE): Attracting and selecting strong candidates; impactful ITE content; quality field placement experiences.
2. Induction: Supporting teachers' transition into their first positions; the role of school leaders and mentor teachers.
3. Teacher shortages and un/under-qualified teachers: Exploring strategies to address shortages (fast-track programs, remedial content, short-term catch-up programs).
4. Continuous professional development (CPD): Cost-effective approaches; the role of school leaders, supervisors, and inspectors; career pathways and retention strategies.
5. Leading change and aligning institutions: Effective teacher workforce planning; incentives, quality assurance, and accountability measures; leveraging digital technologies; aligning institutions for effective ITE and CPD.
Participants: The event expects 250-350 participants, including policymakers, government officials, academic leaders, teacher unions, school and district administrators, researchers, NGOs, private sector representatives, ITE and CPD providers, and teachers.
Event format: The two-day event will include keynote speeches, presentations, interactive sessions, panel discussions, poster sessions, and an exhibition hall. The World Bank's upcoming report, "From Prospective to Prepared Teacher: A Global Study of Initial Teacher Education," will be featured.
Outcomes: Event proceedings, including materials, key discussion points, conclusions, and announcements of future activities, will be shared after the event. These proceedings will serve as a valuable resource for ongoing efforts at regional and country levels.