7 ways countries are transforming education

Lebanon's 2025 education strategy aims to provide equal opportunities for vulnerable children - both Lebanese and refugees - through government-funded tuition for grades K to 9 and a 'Cash for Education' programme that assists with non-tuition expenses, benefiting about 90,000 students from the most vulnerable groups in public schools. This financial support of 15 to 20 USD per child per month over two consecutive years will help mitigate the economic pressures that often drive families towards short-term solutions like child labour or early marriage for girls. Thus, this initiative also aims to contribute to a reduction in child labour.

Bangladeshhas institutionalized the World Teachers'Day as a major national event to elevate the social status of teachers, which is part of a broader strategy to professionalize and empower the teaching workforce. Additionally, the country has focused on improving teacher working conditions, including salary raises and career development opportunities through the "teachers'pact."

Singaporerevised its Nurturing Early Learners Framework to emphasize developing children's values, social, and emotional competencies and learning dispositions. These efforts reflect Singapore's focus on holistic education that imparts academic knowledge and nurtures well-rounded individuals, preparing students to thrive in a rapidly changing global environment.

The Dominican Republichas made significant strides in education financing by incrementally increasing its education budget to meet international benchmarks and setting a minimum investment of US$2,500 per child per year. Additionally, the country has implemented a "Comprehensive Strategic Intelligence System"to improve the transparency and monitoring of educational spending, ensuring resources are allocated effectively and equitably.

Indonesia's Ministry of Education, Culture, Research, and Technology has taken a targeted approach to ensuring equitable resource distribution, particularly focusing on disadvantaged groups such as low-income households, rural residents, and children with disabilities. The ministry has also incorporated gender responsiveness into its public expenditure monitoring, demonstrating a commitment to equity and efficiency in education financing.

Argentinacommitted to long-term education financing by adopting an education financing bill (Law No. 25,075) in 2023. This bill ensures that a minimum level of government funding is allocated to education, aiming to reach 8% of GDP by 2033. This forward-thinking strategy reflects a strong commitment to sustained investment in education.

Bahrainhas integrated special education programmesinto 175 mainstream schools. This initiative includes awareness raising for teachers, administrative staff and the entire student body to ensure that schools are equipped to meet the diverse needs of students with disabilities, allowing them to learn alongside their peers in regular classrooms.

Estoniahas integrated nearly 80,000 Ukrainian refugees into its education system by providing substantial financial, material and mental health support to enhance access to education for children and youth affected by crises through inclusive educational systems.

Argentina has been updating its education policies to comply with national laws (laws 26,150 and 26,206), which mandate comprehensive and universal educational actions in human rights and gender equality. These laws guarantee that all students, in both public and private institutions across all levels, receive comprehensive sexuality education, ensuring that gender equality and inclusivity are deeply embedded in the education system.

Uzbekistan's"One Million Programmers"project incentivizes teachers to use digital tools by offering prizes for completing digital education training. This initiative reflects a broader commitment to integrating technology into education, emphasizing the importance of strengthening teacher support and digital learning content as the cornerstones for effective digital learning.

Andorra adopted the Digital Strategy for Education 2022-2025, focusing on enhancing digital skills among students and teachers. The strategy also prioritizes the security, accessibility, and quality of digital tools, ensuring a comprehensive approach to digital transformation in education.

Türkiye is leveraging advanced technology by incorporating virtual reality into technical and vocational education and training. This innovative approach highlights how emerging technologies can be harnessed to provide practical, immersive learning experiences that align with today's educational needs.

Mauritius, to address the significant shortage of primary school teachers, has created additional teaching posts in all subject areas and actively recruited 600 trainee primary school educators. This initiative is expected to increase the primary teaching workforce by 16.4%, ensuring that more teachers are available to meet students'needs and improve the quality of education.

Kyrgyzstan has made substantial improvements in its teacher certification process by automating it and creating an electronic certification platform. Additionally, in 2022 and 2023, Kyrgyzstan provided advanced training to a large number ofits teaching staff, ensuring that teachers are better qualified and equipped to deliver high-quality education.

France has implemented salary raises, additional compensation, and career development opportunities through the "teachers'pact"to improve teacher working conditions and address recruitment and retention challenges. These efforts aim to make the teaching profession more attractive and sustainable, ensuring teachers are motivated, appreciated and well-supported.

Zambiahas focused on creating learner-centered pedagogies at the forefront of all lessons at all levels by integrating various pedagogical approaches, including creativity, playful learning, and project-based learning. These efforts, exemplified by the Zambia Education Enhancement Project (ZEEP), prioritize the holistic development of students by fostering an environment that encourages autonomy and critical thinking, aligning with the needs of the 21st century.

Jordanhas integrated socio-emotional learning (SEL) into its core curriculum, embedding it within subjects like mathematics and the Arabic language. This approach ensures that students develop academically and acquire essential life skills to manage emotions and build supportive relationships. Integrating SEL across subjects reflects a commitment to nurturing well-rounded individuals prepared for future challenges.

Omanhas embraced environmental education as part of its holistic educational transformation. The Green School project encourages eco-friendly practices and infrastructure within schools, ensuring that students are equipped with the knowledge and skills necessary to address environmental challenges.

Albaniahas developed the National Youth Strategy for 2022-2029 and its Action Place,which focuses on ensuring equal rights, opportunities, and support for marginalized and vulnerable youth. By institutionalizing youth engagement, Albania is making strides in ensuring that young people's voices are integral to shaping the future of the nation's education system.

Sierra Leone has embedded youth engagement within its legal framework to ensure the sustained participation of young people in educational reforms. Sierra Leone's Youth advisory group representing all districts is enshrined in the 2030 Education Act. This initiative provides a structured platform for youth to contribute to educational decision-making. It ensures that their participation is maintained beyond political changes, securing a stable and ongoing role for youth in shaping the country's educational landscape.

Lithuaniahas established youth advisory bodies, such as the Youth Affairs Councils, at both the national and local levels. These councils serve as effective platforms for fostering closer cooperation and coordination between youth representatives and relevant institutions. These councils assess and discuss legal acts and strategies affecting young people with the goal of actively involving them in decision-making processes.

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