vForeword
In an era characterized by constant change and interdependence, education
is no longer an issue confined within national boundaries. Increasingly, the
common aspirations of countries for sustainable development and global
peace drive their cooperation for education reforms, and issues of learning
are repeatedly raised in various fora across Asia and the Pacific. Transforming
teaching and learning has become a shared agenda among policy-makers
and educators in the region.
At the High-Level Expert Meeting Beyond 2015: Transforming Teaching and
Learning in the Asia-Pacific Region, convened by UNESCO in Bangkok on
16-18 October 2013, participants observed that, amidst the differences among
countries in Asia and the Pacific, there are common experiences with regard
to changes in approaches to education. Notably, the focus of attention is
shifting from uniformity to diversity, from teacher-centred to learner-centred
ones, and from examination-oriented learning to whole person development.
Inspired by the expert meeting, this publication provides evidence of the
changing landscape in teaching and learning in Asia and the Pacific. It
portrays the reform experiences and ambitions of seven countries – Fiji,
Indonesia, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Nepal, the Republic of Korea, and Viet Nam –
to provide quality learning for all. It also illuminates the factors, including
resource constraints, capacity gaps and a lack of shared understanding
among stakeholders, that hinder the implementation of policy changes.
The contributors to this publication help to articulate the realities of education
in the region. From the opportunities and challenges presented, the seven
chapters allow readers to assess the situations in their own countries and
envision the future of education in the region. As we move towards the next
stage of global action for education, it is my hope that this publication will
help the countries in Asia and the Pacific to define the kinds of teaching and
learning they need in order to achieve the futures they desire.
Gwang-Jo Kim
Director
UNESCO Bangkok