Background
To realize inclusive and equitable quality education for all, education systems need cadres of well-prepared and well-supported teachers. This is important because teachers have profound impacts on student learning and well-being, and raising student learning requires education systems to develop strong pipelines of teachers. Central to these efforts is strengthening and supporting the teaching profession. This includes initial teacher education as the first stage in teachers’ career-long development, a basis for teachers to grow as lifelong learners, and a critical step for gaining the knowledge, competencies, and skills for teaching. Many governments and development partners have historically focused much of their attention on teachers’ on-the-job training, which can be an important but only partial response. Recognizing the broader need to build a strong basis of teachers’ knowledge, expertise, and competence from the start of their careers, the World Bank has initiated a global study of initial teacher education. A 2-day global conference will share the findings of this study and bring together key stakeholders to share evidence, experiences, and lessons learned on preparing and developing teacher education and educators who will shape futures.
Objective
The objective of the two-day conference is to share the latest research findings and global experiences on preparing and developing sustainable cadres of teachers who have the talent, commitment, and support to contribute to ensuring inclusive and equitable quality education for all. This conference will serve as a platform for sharing insights, building solutions, and networking across sectors to enhance teacher preparation and development worldwide.
Participants
The conference will gather a diverse group of participants who are involved in designing, delivering, and maintaining the quality of teacher preparation and development. This includes government officials, academic leaders, teacher representative organizations, school and district-level administrators, researchers, NGOs, private sector, initial teacher education providers, and teachers. The total number of expected participants is under discussion.
Partnerships
Selected key partners will be invited to host and facilitate sessions, fostering collaborative dialogue and enabling wide representation through shared funding and in-kind contributions. Support to the participation of low- and middle-income countries will be essential to the success of this conference.
Sessions and themes
The conference will include keynote speeches, presentations, panel sessions, poster sessions, and an exhibition hall.
The World Bank’s report From Prospective to Prepared Teacher: A Global Study of Initial Teacher Education will be launched at the conference, and subsequent sessions will unpack the findings. In addition to initial teacher education, other key themes include attracting and selecting future teachers, induction, and continuous professional development. Some sessions will focus on thematic and contextual challenges and opportunities, such as teacher shortages, community and contract teachers, efficient and effective use of technology, and conflict or post-conflict locations. Topics beyond, but related to, teacher preparation and development may be included, such as teacher hiring and deployment; leadership and flexible career pathways; planning and managing the teaching workforce; quality assurance and accountability; fostering innovation; international collaboration; and financing.
Contact
If you have any questions, please email us at teacherconference2025@worldbank.org.
