Early investments in education were key to the remarkable economic development of East Asia and Pacific. Basic literacy and numeracy equipped farmers to adopt new seeds and fertilizers and usher in the Green Revolution. The resulting increase in productivity enabled workers with basic skills to move out of agriculture and into export-oriented manufacturing. This structural transformation boosted economywide productivity growth driven by investments in human capital. However, past successes obscure educational inadequacies in today’s middle-income East Asia and Pacific. Despite significant advances in school enrollment and attainment, many countries still face significant learning challenges, starting at the most basic level. Learning outcomes are unequal across and within middle-income East Asian and Pacific countries and economies. Although many factors affect student learning, household income, parents’ education levels, and child nutrition - once children enter school, teachers are the most important factor. However, data from across the region indicate that many countries still face challenges with respect to teaching quality. The report, therefore, focuses on teachers to enhance teaching quality and improve foundational learning. Research shows that teacher-focused interventions have the largest impact on student learning outcomes. Because teachers’ salaries make up the largest share of government spending on education, building a strong cadre of teachers will be critical to ensuring that countries get the most from their scarce public resources. Finally, the report highlights that successful reform will require more than identifying the best technical solutions. Bridging the basic learning gap in middle-income East Asia and Pacific will take sustained commitment by all stakeholders, officials, teachers, and parents to find common ground in the interests of children and development.
