The world needs 31 million more secondary teachers: new guidance out now to fill the gap.
Teachers are at the heart of the learning process, playing a critical role in imparting knowledge and shaping the future. Yet, despite this, education systems worldwide continue to grapple with shortages and face challenges in attracting and retaining qualified educators. While the teacher shortage has narrowed in recent years, an estimated 44 million teachers are still needed to reach the goal of universal primary and secondary education by 2030. Regional disparities remain strong, with sub-Saharan Africa requiring 15 million more teachers by 2030 – representing about one-third of the global demand. The teacher shortage is particularly severe at the secondary level, where 31 million teachers are needed, 58% of which are needed to replace those leaving the profession. Such shortages have far-reaching consequences, directly affecting students, learning outcomes, and the workforce. But addressing this at the secondary level, where teachers need subject-specific expertise, and higher q...