On 16 September, the World Bank Group launched the Global Coach Program, a new initiative focused on supporting countries in revamping in-service teacher professional development (TPD) programmes and systems to accelerate learning. VVOB is proud to be represented by Global Director of Programmes Tom Vandenbosch in the Technical Advisory Board.
Coach, an initiative run by the World Bank's Education Global Practice, supports countries to transform TPD programmes and policies so that they align with four key principles that have been shown to be effective in improving teaching quality. These principles represent a shift from traditional, ineffective professional development to one that uses insights from behavioural science and the science of adult learning to make teacher professional development (i) tailored, (ii) practical, (iii) focused and (iv) ongoing.
The Coach programme uses a two-pronged approach that bridges the gap between evidence and practice:
- global public goods in the form of tools and resources are developed that provide guidance on how to design, develop, implement and evaluate high quality TPD programs and policies
- hands-on technical assistance is offered to countries seeking to implement these tools and resources.
To provide the strategic guidance necessary to strengthen the Coach programme and approach and expand its impact and reach around the world, a Technical Advisory Board has been convened. VVOB is proud to be represented on the Board by Global Director of Programmes Tom Vandenbosch:
“Teachers are at the heart of COVID-19 responses as they form a key part in the solution to the crisis, prioritising learners' wellbeing and catch-up for learning lost. It is important that teachers receive adequate professional support to assume their responsibilities and meet expectations. Training, mentoring, coaching and professional learning communities are critical in this support to teachers, either through in-person, remote or hybrid modalities. That's why the principles, tools and resources offered by Coach for improving in-service teacher professional development are so timely and relevant for the work of VVOB and its partners.”
The Technical Advisory Board of Coach is comprised of experts and practitioners from academia, policymaking and teaching practice with recognised expertise in in-service teacher professional development:
- Unaiza Ayub, Head of Education, The Citizens Foundation
- Jacobus Cilliers, Professor, Georgetown University
- Ranjitsinh Disale, school teacher and 2020 Winner, Varkey Foundation Global Teacher Prize
- Asyia Kazmi, Global Education Policy Lead, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
- Marja Kristiina Lerkkanen, Professor, University of of Jyväskylä
- Zhang Minxuan, Professor, Shanghai Normal University
- Denise Vaillant, Professor, Universidad de Uruguay
- Tom Vandenbosch, Global Director of Programmes, VVOB
- Carlos Vargas, Head of Secretariat, International Teacher Task Force
- Daniel Willingham, Professor, University of Virginia
The Coach programme is currently supported through funding from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland and Porticus.
