ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty.
Established in 1966, it is owned by 69 members—49 from the region.
ORGANIZATION
ACCOUNTABILITY
ADB supports projects in developing member countries that create economic and development impact, delivered through both public and private sector operations, advisory services, and knowledge support.
Education
ADB is working across Asia and the Pacific to promote quality, accessible education for all to support sustainable development.
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- What ADB Is Doing
- What ADB Has Done
- What's New
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Promoting equity and inclusivity in education, particularly for women and the marginalized, is critical to education for sustainable development.
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Asia and the Pacific need educated populations with marketable skills if economies are to move up the value chain and compete in a globalized world.
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Vocational training needs to be delivered in closer cooperation with the private sector and better aligned with the needs of labor markets.
Educational Status of Poorest Quintile Adolescents (ages 10–19 years)
Children who are unable to go to school, even in countries where enrolment levels are high, tend to be from the poorest and most disadvantaged in society.
Students' Access to a Computer or Laptop at Home
The digital capabilities of students and their access to the tools and content required for digital education are key pillars of the digital education ecosystem. However, access to devices most suitable for remote learning, such as laptops and computers, is low.
Prevalence of Technology-related Courses
at Training Institutions
Training institutions provide courses to teach 4IR relevant skills and technologies but the use of 4IR technologies in training delivery is limited.
ADB has been working for more than 50 years in Asia and the Pacific to expand and improve education at all levels and has allocated about $15 billion in loans and grants to the sector. The bank has played an important role in Asia’s achievements in education; today 9 out of 10 children in the region are enrolled in primary school. But daunting challenges, particularly in quality of learning, remain if countries are to become successful knowledge economies. Reducing inequality in education is central to poverty reduction. ADB has supported many projects that promote inclusivity, such as education scholarships and stipends linked to conditional cash transfer programs.
These inclusivity programs have often had positive results, particularly when targeted at girls, poor households and marginalized groups. ADB will also focus on the future of work, green transformation, digital learning, and strong foundational skills. These are the most critical areas that developing member countries (DMCs) will need to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s a clear link between quality education and economic competitiveness. The bank is working to support its DMCs improve universities and vocational training centers to better align them with national economic needs. ADB is committed to working with its partners to find new ways of sustainably financing education at all levels.
Our Impact
Results delivered in 2023 from ADB projects.
789,000
People enrolled in improved education or training
178,000
Women and girls completing secondary and tertiary education, and/or other training
930,000
Women enrolled in vocational and other job training
Your Questions Answered
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What role has ADB played in promoting primary and secondary education in developing Asia?
ADB is supporting primary and secondary education in 19 of its developing member countries (DMCs). While most countries in Asia and the Pacific have achieved almost universal primary education, many have yet to achieve universal secondary education.
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What impact has the COVID-19 pandemic had on education in developing Asia?
ADB estimates that schools in developing Asia were closed for 272 days on average, or 73% of learning time, between February 2020 and October 2021. The average length of school closures was particularly long in South Asia (375 days) and shorter in the Pacific (42 days).
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How can vocational education be better linked to the specific needs of industry and commerce in Asia’s rapidly growing economies?
ADB supports vocational education, for example this program in Bangladesh. New institutions are needed to support companies in setting up work-based training arrangements. Vocational skills training should be closely linked to industry.
What's New
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| News Releases, News from Country Offices
ADB Joins in Opening Ceremony for New USP Campus in Solomon Islands
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| Publications, Papers and Briefs
Storms, Early Education, and Human Capital
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| News Releases, News Release
QUAN HỆ ĐỐI TÁC MỚI GIỮA ADB-IFFED MỞ RA 500 TRIỆU USD TÀI TRỢ GIÁO DỤC ƯU ĐÃI TẠI CHÂU Á VÀ THÁI BÌNH DƯƠNG
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| News Releases, News Release
НОВОЕ ПАРТНЕРСТВО АБР-IFFED ПОЗВОЛИТ ПРИВЛЕЧЬ 500 МЛН. ДОЛЛ. США НА ЛЬГОТНОЕ ФИНАНСИРОВАНИЕ ОБРАЗОВАНИЯ В АЗИАТСКО-ТИХООКЕАНСКОМ РЕГИОНЕ
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| News Releases, News Release
New ADB–IFFEd Partnership to Unlock $500 Million in Concessional Education Financing in Asia and Pacific
