In a significant development for teacher education, Professor Qun Chen has been appointed as UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education. This announcement comes as around 120 teachers and education leaders convened in Bangkok for the Education International and UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Forum on Teachers.
During the forum, participants emphasized the urgent need for sustained public investment in education and competitive salaries for teachers. The discussions highlighted that approximately 887.6 million learners in the Asia-Pacific region rely on well-trained and supported teachers to facilitate their education.
Moreover, the region faces a pressing challenge, with a requirement for an additional 16.6 million teachers to achieve Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) by 2030. This goal aims to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education for all and promote lifelong learning opportunities.
Professor Chen, who previously held a UNESCO Chair in Teachers Education from 2012 to 2017 and has been the Chair of the Governing Board of the UNESCO Teacher Education Center since 2021, brings extensive experience to his new role. His career began as a science scholar at East China Normal University, underscoring his long-standing commitment to education.
The forum also underscored the importance of continuous professional development for teachers. Anand Singh, a participant, stated, “Teachers’ conditions are central to attaining SDG 4. Improving education outcomes is impossible without improving teachers’ conditions.” This sentiment reflects a growing recognition of the critical role teachers play in educational success.
Soohyun Kim, another forum participant, echoed this sentiment, asserting that “Teachers are at the heart of education systems” and called for strengthened investment in the profession to ensure that every child has access to a qualified teacher.
As the discussions unfold, the focus remains on addressing the challenges faced by educators in the region. With the appointment of Professor Chen and the outcomes of the forum, there is a renewed hope for advancing teacher education and improving educational systems across the Asia-Pacific.
