Concept Note

Concept Note PDF 
 

DRAFT FOR CONSULTATION: May 2025

Background

To realize inclusive and equitable quality education for all, education systems require a cadre of well-prepared and well-supported qualified teachers. Teachers profoundly impact students’ learning and well-being, with a great teacher capable of advancing student learning by the equivalent of multiple years of schooling. As the cornerstone of education systems, teachers play a crucial role in shaping future generations. However, globally, the recruitment and retention of highly skilled teachers remain challenging, with an estimated need for an additional 44 million teachers to reach the Sustainable Development Goal of full primary and secondary school enrollment and an additional 6 million preprimary teachers by 2030.

Quality initial teacher education (ITE) lays the foundation for teachers’ career-long professional development, equipping them with the core knowledge and skills for teaching, along with a strong professional identity. Continuous professional development (CPD) ensures that teachers grow as lifelong learners, adapt to new educational demands, and lead change. By investing in both ITE and CPD, governments can build a robust teaching workforce capable of meeting the diverse needs of students and fulfilling the promise of education.

The African Union, the World Bank, Learning Systems Institute at Florida State University (LSI@FSU), and UNESCO International Institute for Capacity Building in Africa (IICBA) will present a two-day global knowledge exchange on teacher preparation and continuous professional development. The event will feature the World Bank’s upcoming report titled “From Prospective to Prepared Teacher: A Global Study of Initial Teacher Education”, along with other recent research and publications, including the Africa Teachers Report Series published jointly by UNESCO IICBA and the African Union.

Delegate Profile
The event will bring together a diverse group of stakeholders who are involved in designing, delivering, and maintaining the quality of teacher preparation and CPD. This includes education policymakers and government officials responsible for teacher preparation and CPD, academic leaders, teacher unions, school and district-level administrators, researchers, NGOs, private sector, ITE and CPD, and teachers. Approximately 250–350 participants are expected, including representatives from, for example, the Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities, Education International, the International Teacher Task Force, and the China-Africa Deans of Education Forum.

Objective, theme, and outcomes

The overall objective of the event is to raise awareness and build coalitions for change around preparing and developing sustainable cadres of teachers who possess the talent, commitment, and support necessary to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all.
The specific objectives are:

1. To facilitate peer-to-peer learning through the sharing of the latest research findings, policy guidance, strategic insights, and global experiences related to teacher preparation and CPD.
2. To create opportunities for policymakers, education experts, and researchers to connect and build professional networks focused on teacher preparation and professional development.
3. To promote the implementation of evidence-informed policies that support effective teacher preparation and professional development.

The event will address various themes related to teacher preparation and professional development, as follows:

• Theme 1. The teaching profession: Includes the status and attractiveness of the teaching profession; addressing teacher shortages; and promoting teacher well-being, job satisfaction, and retention.
• Theme 2. Initial teacher education (ITE): Includes attracting and selecting strong teacher candidates into ITE programs; providing impactful ITE content; and incorporating quality field placement experiences.
• Theme 3. Induction: Includes developing programs to support teachers’ transition into their first teaching positions; and the role of school leaders and mentor teachers in induction.
• Theme 4. Teacher shortages and un/under-qualified teachers: Includes exploring complementary strategies to address teacher shortages such as fast-track or emergency ITE programs; remedial content in ITE programs; and short-term catch-up ITE programs for un/under-qualified teachers.
• Theme 5. Continuous professional development (CPD): Includes cost-effective approaches to CPD; the role of key stakeholders in teachers’ CPD; and career pathways and strategies to support teachers’ roles in leading change.
• Theme 6. School leaders: Includes the pivotal role of school leaders in enhancing teacher preparation and professional development.

Cross-cutting themes include technology, quality assurance, and leading and aligning institutions for change. The outcomes of the event will be documented in the proceedings, which will be shared shortly after the event. These will include the event materials, key discussion points and conclusions, and announcements of future activities. To leverage the learning and dialogue, and to continue raising awareness at regional and country levels, these proceedings will serve as a valuable resource for ongoing efforts.

Dates and location
The event will take place on Novermber 3–4, 2025 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Partnerships
We are excited to invite partners to contribute to the success of this event by fostering collaborative dialogue and ensuring broad representation. There will be opportunities to share research in the poster sessions, or to host panels and interactive sessions. Your support in covering the travel, accommodation, and per diem expenses for delegates from low- and middle-income countries will be instrumental in achieving these goals. If interested in supporting this event, please contact Laura Gregory at LGregory1@worldbank.org and Quentin Wodon at q.wodon@unesco.org.

Fees and travel costs
Registration is open to all, but space is limited. There is no registration fee. Please note that participants are responsible for organizing their own travel and accommodation.

Speakers and sessions
The event will include keynote speeches, presentations, interactive sessions, panel discussions, poster sessions, and an exhibition hall. Speakers will include leaders on teacher preparation and professional development from governments, academia, teacher unions, schools, NGOs, private sector, and ITE and CPD providers.

Contact
Further information and registration details will be available on the event website. In the meantime, for any questions or to be added to our email list for future notifications, please contact us at teacherconference_2025@worldbank.org.

Tentative agenda

This agenda is indicative and subject to adjustments. The final agenda will be shared on the event website.