Improving teaching : a key to successful educational change; and Textbooks as instruments for the improvement of the quality of education

Although heavy investments have been made over the years in the education sector by both governments and international donor agencies, there still remain many questions that arise regarding the quality of education in the developing world. This paper examines World Bank experience with teacher training programs designed to support the implementation of educational quality improvement and change in developing countries. The analysis of a sample of 21 such programs from the World Bank portfolio, demonstrates the critical role of in-service teacher training in the change process. The paper discusses four crucial design features of teacher training components in high outcome change programs. These include: providing locally available and permanent in-service training; creating effective systems of teacher supervision and support; designing the content of training programs in light of the teacher's knowledge and experience; and paying attention to teacher motivation. On the basis of the evidence from the case studies, the paper recommends increased funding for teacher training components in change programs, teacher-centered program designs, and strengthened research efforts to enhance the understanding of the characteristics of effective teaching.