
World Bank Education Resources: Your Complete Guide to Impact, Data, and Access
Overview of World Bank Education Resources
The World Bank Group offers a wide range of educational materials, data platforms, and research tools to help develop education worldwide. Educators, researchers, and policymakers can access comprehensive databases, policy guidance documents, and open educational content.
Key Types of Resources Available
The World Bank is the largest external financier of education in developing countries. It offers diverse resources to meet different educational needs.
You can find data sets, research publications, and practical implementation guides for all education levels.
Research and Publications play a key role. The World Bank publishes reports on global education trends, policy analysis, and best practices.
These cover topics from early childhood development to vocational training.
Educational Data and Statistics give essential information for planning. You can access enrollment data, learning outcome measurements, and education financing figures from many countries.
This data helps you understand education patterns and challenges worldwide.
Policy Guidance and Technical Assistance materials provide practical support. You can find frameworks for curriculum design, teacher training, and education sector planning.
Navigating World Bank Group Platforms
The World Bank EdStats portal centralises education statistics and analysis tools from around the world. You can easily compare data between countries.
Primary Access Points include the World Bank website, EdStats database, and specialised portals. Each serves different needs, from simple data searches to advanced analysis.
You can filter information by country, education level, or specific indicators.
The Data360 education section covers education from pre-primary to tertiary. It includes participation rates, learning outcomes, completion statistics, and resource data.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, says: “These comprehensive databases provide educators with invaluable context for understanding global education challenges and successful interventions.”
Search and Filter Functions let you customise data displays. You can generate charts, download datasets, and compare countries or time periods.
Accessing Open Educational Content
The World Bank supports open access to educational resources through digital platforms and partnerships. Education data covers all levels of education and includes information on access, participation, learning outcomes, and infrastructure.
Digital Learning Materials include curriculum resources, teaching guides, and assessment tools. These materials support education systems in developing countries and offer insights for educators everywhere.
You can download and adapt these resources to suit your needs.
Knowledge Sharing Platforms encourage collaboration between educators and policymakers. The World Bank Academy resources provide learning materials, reports, and expert insights for capacity building.
Technical Documentation offers guides for education technology projects and system reforms. These resources give practical steps for introducing new technology or large-scale policy changes in education.
The World Bank works with partners to develop open global public goods and collaborates with innovators on educational content. This ensures resources stay current and useful in different contexts.
The World Bank Group’s Role in Education
The World Bank Group is the largest financier of education in the developing world. It works in 94 countries and manages a £26.5 billion education portfolio.
Through partnerships and support programmes, the organisation helps countries build education systems that connect classrooms to careers for 305 million students.
Education Strategy and Priorities
The World Bank focuses on solving the “learning crisis.” Over 250 million children worldwide are out of school, and seven in ten children in low- and middle-income countries cannot read a simple paragraph by age 10.
The Education Sector Strategy 2020, called “Learning for All,” targets three main areas:
- Foundational skills in literacy, numeracy, and socio-emotional learning
- Early childhood development investments for a strong start in life
- Skills matching programmes aligned with job market needs
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, says: “Understanding how education systems work globally helps teachers appreciate the broader context of their vital work in the classroom.”
The World Bank highlights that if a child cannot read with comprehension by age 10, they are unlikely to become fluent readers. This affects their education and future job prospects.
Global Partnerships for Education
The World Bank Group helped found the Global Partnership for Education (GPE) in 2002 as the Education for All Fast Track Initiative.
Through this partnership, governments, civil society, and private sector organisations work together on education goals.
They pool funding from different sources to maximise impact in developing nations.
Knowledge sharing platforms help countries learn from successful education initiatives in other places.
The partnership works towards SDG4: access to inclusive and quality education and lifelong learning for all by 2030.
Support for Developing Countries
The World Bank tailors support to each country’s specific educational challenges. Many low-income countries spend only £55 per student each year, creating big resource gaps.
Technical assistance includes curriculum development, teacher training, and education system management in over 85 countries.
Financial partnerships offer loans and grants for education infrastructure and programme development.
Capacity building helps governments create sustainable education policies and strategies.
Recent challenges have increased the need for support. The COVID pandemic could result in a combined £21 trillion loss in lifetime earnings for students. Between January 2022 and June 2024, over 400 million students missed school due to extreme weather events.
The Bank addresses immediate crises and builds long-term resilience in education systems.
How Education Resources Drive Development

Education resources drive economic growth and help lift millions out of poverty through investments in human capital. Each year of schooling increases earnings and reduces inequality in developing countries.
Linking Education to Economic Growth
Education acts as a powerful economic engine for developing countries. Research shows a 9% increase in hourly earnings for every extra year of schooling worldwide.
This happens through several key mechanisms.
Human Capital Formation
- Skilled workers increase productivity
- Higher education levels attract foreign investment
- Innovation grows when people have strong educational foundations
Economic Multiplier Effects
Education investments benefit more than just individual learners. Countries with better-educated populations see faster GDP growth, more diverse economies, and greater competitiveness.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, says: “Quality education doesn’t just change individual lives—it transforms entire economies by creating skilled workforces that drive innovation and growth.”
Impact on Poverty Reduction
Education breaks cycles of poverty. The World Bank identifies education as one of the strongest instruments for reducing poverty.
Direct Poverty Reduction Mechanisms
- Employment Access: Education opens doors to formal jobs
- Income Growth: Educated people earn higher wages
- Financial Stability: Education gives skills to manage money
Intergenerational Benefits
Educated parents help their families succeed.
- Their children stay in school longer
- Health outcomes improve across generations
- Social mobility rises
Communities with higher education levels experience less crime, better health, and stronger social ties.
The World Bank’s research shows that education investments create lasting impacts on human capital and growth.
Addressing Equity and Inclusion in Education
The World Bank aims to create education systems where every child can access quality learning, no matter their background. Inclusive education means building systems and environments where all students have equal access to learning, with special attention to girls’ education and vulnerable groups.
Gender Parity in Education
Girls face unique barriers that need targeted solutions and policy changes. Cultural norms, early marriage, and economic pressures often keep girls from finishing school.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole, says: “When we ensure girls have equal access to education, we’re not just changing individual lives—we’re transforming entire communities and breaking cycles of poverty.”
Key barriers girls face:
- Families prioritise boys’ education for economic reasons
- Safety concerns during travel to school
- Lack of proper sanitation facilities
- Early marriage and pregnancy
- Gender-based violence at school
The World Bank tackles these challenges with comprehensive programmes. They improve school infrastructure, provide cash transfers to families, and train teachers in gender-sensitive methods.
Effective interventions:
- Building separate toilets for girls
- Training female teachers as role models
- Providing scholarships for girls
- Creating safe transportation options
- Engaging community leaders to shift attitudes
Inclusive Approaches for Vulnerable Groups
Children with disabilities are 2.5 times more likely to never attend school than other children. Ethnic minorities, refugees, and children from remote areas also face exclusion.
The World Bank removes systemic barriers instead of just accommodating differences. Their approach focuses on strengthening inclusivity in education systems.
Priority groups:
- Children with disabilities (291.2 million globally)
- Ethnic and linguistic minorities
- Indigenous peoples
- Children in rural or remote areas
- Refugees and displaced people
Their twin-track approach adapts general education systems to be more inclusive and provides targeted support for specific groups. This includes adapting curricula, training teachers in inclusive methods, and providing proper resources.
Implementation strategies:
- Collecting data on excluded learners
- Developing flexible assessment systems
- Creating resource centres for specialised support
- Training itinerant teachers for remote areas
- Encouraging collaboration between education, health, and social protection ministries
Inclusive education helps break cycles of poverty, especially for children from the poorest families.
Data and Statistics for Education
The World Bank shares comprehensive education data through EdStats. This platform covers over 2,500 indicators across all education levels, from pre-primary to tertiary.
Educators and policymakers use these statistics to track progress, find gaps, and make informed decisions about educational interventions.
Using EdStats for Insights
EdStats Education Statistics helps you explore global education trends. You’ll find data on access, completion rates, learning outcomes, and expenditures for over 200 countries.
The platform presents complex data in interactive visualisations. You can compare your country’s performance with regional averages or similar economies.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole and an educator with 16 years of classroom experience, explains, “When you analyse education data, you need to look beyond headline figures to understand learning equity. These statistics reveal which children are being left behind.”
The World Bank EdStats Query lets you customise your analysis. You can filter by geographic region, income level, time period, or education level.
International assessments like PISA and TIMSS provide learning outcome data. This helps you see not just who attends school, but who is actually learning.
Key Indicators and Benchmarks
Key education indicators help you measure what matters for children’s learning and development. Education data covering all levels tracks essential metrics.
Access and Participation Metrics:
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Gross enrolment ratios by education level
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Net attendance rates for primary education
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Out-of-school children statistics
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Gender parity indices
Quality and Learning Outcomes:
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Literacy rates by age group and gender
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Numeracy assessment scores
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Learning poverty indicators
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Teacher qualification levels
Michelle Connolly observes, “Raw enrolment figures can be misleading. A child registered for school isn’t necessarily learning effectively if they lack qualified teachers or resources.”
Equity and Inclusion Data shows disparities across groups. You can examine completion rates by:
| Demographic Factor | Key Indicators |
|---|---|
| Gender | Female-to-male ratios in secondary education |
| Rural/Urban | Attendance gaps between locations |
| Wealth Quintiles | Learning outcomes by household income |
| Disability Status | Inclusive education participation rates |
Financial Investment Indicators show how resources are allocated. You can review public expenditure per pupil, teacher salary comparisons, and infrastructure spending to assess whether funding reaches classrooms.
Tracking these benchmarks over time helps you spot policy shifts or economic pressures that affect education systems.
World Bank Academy and Learning Platforms

The World Bank Group Academy offers education resources through structured programmes and flexible online learning. These platforms equip development professionals with practical tools for global education challenges.
World Bank Group Academy Programmes
The Academy delivers three types of learning experiences for education leaders at different career stages. Impact Programmes focus on immersive, topic-specific sessions where you work with peers to solve your country’s education challenges.
Michelle Connolly notes, “Global learning platforms like the World Bank Academy show how structured professional development can transform education when implemented well.”
Practitioner Programmes provide flexible, short-term online courses you can complete anywhere. These courses build skills in areas like education finance and policy development.
The Academy’s Education Finance E-Learning course gives you insights into mobilising resources and improving spending efficiency. You’ll learn policies that promote fair resource use and explore results-based financing.
Core topics include:
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Agriculture and rural development
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Climate and environmental education
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Digital transformation in education
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Gender equality in learning
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Social protection and education access
Capacity Building Opportunities
The World Bank Group’s knowledge platform connects government officials, development practitioners, and education experts worldwide. You can access practical toolkits and workshops to build institutional capacity.
The Open Learning Campus hosts online content and requires account registration for course credit and certification. This lets you pause and resume learning as needed.
The platform offers several learning formats:
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Online courses for flexible learning
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In-person workshops for collaboration
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Hybrid programmes combining both approaches
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Toolkits for immediate use
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Brief resources for quick reference
You’ll connect with current government leaders and build networks with future changemakers. The Academy accelerates your impact through hands-on learning tailored to real-world education challenges.
Technology and Innovation in Education
The World Bank Group promotes educational technology to connect teachers, students, and communities and make learning more accessible. Digital innovations help schools become more resilient and can change how education is delivered.
Integrating Digital Tools
The World Bank uses a clear framework to help countries integrate technology into education. They focus on five key principles for EdTech implementation.
The “Ask Why” principle encourages you to set clear educational goals before choosing technology. You should identify specific learning outcomes instead of just adopting new tools.
Design at Scale, For All means creating flexible, user-friendly solutions. Technology choices should work for all learners and remain sustainable.
Michelle Connolly says, “Technology integration works best when it solves real teaching challenges. The best digital tools should feel natural in your daily practice.”
The integration process has three stages:
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Discover: Find evidence-based technology solutions
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Deploy: Test solutions through pilots and scale successful programmes
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Diffuse: Share knowledge and build capacity across education systems
EdTech for Enhanced Learning
The World Bank defines EdTech as hardware, software, digital content, data, and systems that support teaching and learning. Technology should help teachers engage with students by providing better access to content and networks.
Empowering Teachers is central to successful EdTech programmes. Technology amplifies your ability to support student learning and manage classrooms more effectively.
Engaging Ecosystems involves many stakeholders. You need support from government officials, parents, community members, and technology partners to create lasting change.
Data-Driven Decisions help you measure what works. The World Bank encourages evidence-based approaches and experimentation.
Key Implementation Areas:
| Focus Area | Application | Benefit |
|---|---|---|
| Content Access | Digital libraries, online resources | Broader learning materials |
| Assessment Tools | Real-time feedback systems | Immediate learning insights |
| Communication | Parent-teacher platforms | Stronger home-school links |
| Professional Development | Teacher training networks | Continuous skill building |
The World Bank supports cost-effective EdTech use at all education levels. They help countries expand access and improve quality inside and outside classrooms.
Resources for Teachers and Educators
The World Bank Group offers educational materials that improve teaching quality through professional development and collaborative learning networks. These resources help you enhance classroom practices and connect with global communities of educators.
Professional Development Materials
The World Bank’s Coach program helps countries accelerate learning by improving in-service teacher professional development systems. You can access tools and resources for designing, implementing, and evaluating effective TPD programmes.
These materials use evidence-based principles from adult learning and behavioural science. They move away from traditional training methods and focus on approaches that improve teaching.
Michelle Connolly says, “Effective professional development must be practical and immediately useful in the classroom. World Bank resources provide that foundation.”
The Coach tools and resources offer guidance for every stage of professional development. You’ll find materials for one-to-one coaching, group training, and hybrid learning.
The programme uses the Teach classroom observation tool to identify your professional development needs. This ensures you get tailored support to improve your teaching.
Networks and Communities
The World Bank Group connects you to global networks through its Global Platform for Successful Teachers. This platform links educators worldwide who are working on similar teaching improvements.
You can use the World Bank Academy’s resource hub for learning materials, reports, and expert insights. These resources support knowledge-sharing and capacity building.
The platform recognises that teachers need support at every career stage, from initial education through ongoing professional development. You’ll find resources tailored to your career phase.
Through these networks, you can share experiences with technology in education and learn from successful programmes like ProFuturo Digital Education, which provides teacher training at scale to nearly a million users worldwide.
Financial and Policy Tools for Education
The World Bank offers financing mechanisms and policy guidance to help countries strengthen their education systems. These tools support governments in making the most of their education investments and addressing systemic challenges.
Funding Mechanisms and Grants
The World Bank offers diverse financing options to support education development across different income levels.
Through project financing, the World Bank provides countries with targeted funding for specific educational initiatives that align with their national development and education goals.
Primary funding mechanisms include:
- Traditional loans and grants for infrastructure and programme development
- Results-based financing (RBF) that links payments to achieved outcomes
- Education investment swaps that reduce debt while driving education outcomes
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole with 16 years of classroom experience, explains: “Understanding how international funding mechanisms work helps educators appreciate the broader context of educational reform and resource allocation decisions that ultimately affect classroom practice.”
The World Bank Group focuses on low-income and middle-income countries where financial resources for education are limited.
These funding tools aim to make education financing adequate, efficient, and equitable across all population groups.
Results-based financing has become more popular as countries look for better value from their education investments.
This approach rewards successful outcomes instead of simply funding inputs, which encourages innovation and accountability.
Guidance on Policy Development
The World Bank gives analytical and advisory support to help countries develop effective education policies using systematic assessment tools.
The Global Education Policy Dashboard offers evidence-based insights to identify investment priorities for each country.
Key policy development tools include:
- Public Expenditure Reviews that assess spending efficiency and effectiveness
- The FinEd Tool for identifying financial management challenges
- Education Finance Watch reports tracking global financing trends
These resources help governments use their available resources to meet development goals and address inefficiencies.
The World Bank brings together expertise from education and finance sectors to strengthen public financial management systems.
Policy guidance centres on three questions: where to invest marginal education funding, how to make financing more equitable and efficient, and what role education plays in digital and environmental transitions.
The World Bank’s multi-sectoral approach involves ministries of education and finance.
Sustainable education improvements require coordinated policy development across government departments.
Research, Publications, and Knowledge Sharing

The World Bank publishes extensive education research and manages databases that track global development progress.
You can access thousands of reports, data sets, and expert presentations through their online platforms and digital events.
Latest Reports and Data
The World Bank’s education research covers topics like education management information systems and their effect on student outcomes.
You’ll find data-driven insights to help understand global education challenges.
The Development Research Group publishes ongoing studies about education’s role in economic development.
These reports examine how investments in education transform human capital and boost productivity in developing countries.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole with 16 years of classroom experience, says: “When reviewing global education data, teachers and education professionals can identify patterns that directly impact their own practice.”
You can use the Open Knowledge Repository to access World Bank research for free.
The platform includes studies on technology use in education, with EdTech publications that cover digital learning tools and their effectiveness.
The Documents & Reports site acts as the official disclosure mechanism for final reports.
This resource helps you stay current with policy developments affecting education systems worldwide.
Webinars and Online Events
The World Bank Group Academy runs regular webinars and online training sessions focused on education topics.
These events connect you with experts discussing current research findings and practical applications.
Online events usually cover themes like inclusive education policies, sustainable development goals, and innovative teaching methods.
You can join live discussions or watch recorded sessions for flexible learning.
The Academy’s resource hub offers learning materials for capacity building in education sectors.
Professional development opportunities include workshops on education governance, financing, and technology integration.
Many webinars highlight case studies from the World Bank’s work in 94 countries.
These sessions give you insights into diverse education systems and successful interventions.
Improving Employment Outcomes Through Education

Education opens direct pathways to better jobs and higher earnings.
Workers need a range of skills to be productive and innovative, and teachers significantly impact students’ long-term employment outcomes.
Skills for the Future Workforce
The job market requires workers with abilities beyond basic literacy and numeracy.
Modern employers look for candidates with cognitive, socioemotional, and technical skills.
Cognitive skills form the foundation of workplace success.
These include problem-solving, critical thinking, and analytical abilities that help workers adapt to new challenges.
Socioemotional skills are also important.
Communication, teamwork, and leadership abilities help people collaborate and handle responsibilities.
Technical skills depend on the industry but remain essential.
Digital literacy, data analysis, and sector-specific expertise give workers an edge.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole with 16 years of classroom experience, says: “Students who develop both academic knowledge and practical skills are better prepared for career transitions and workplace demands.”
The World Bank addresses this need through programmes that develop skills for employment.
These initiatives prepare young people and adults for future work challenges.
Linking Education with Income and Employment
Education leads to measurable improvements in employment rates and earning potential.
Good jobs are the surest way out of poverty, making education a powerful tool for economic mobility.
Higher levels of education often result in:
- Increased employment opportunities
- Higher starting salaries
- Better job security
- Career advancement prospects
Research shows that investments in education maximise labour market outcomes by building employable skills and raising students’ earning potential.
Education provides knowledge and credentials that employers value.
It also builds soft skills like punctuality, persistence, and professional communication.
Vocational training and apprenticeships create strong links between learning and employment.
These programmes combine theoretical knowledge with practical experience that employers recognise.
How to Get Started with World Bank Education Resources
To get started, you need to understand registration requirements and know where to find help when needed.
The World Bank Group offers clear pathways for accessing their educational materials and support systems.
Registration and Access
Most World Bank education resources are freely available through their dedicated portals.
You can use the World Bank Group Academy’s resource hub without special credentials for general materials and learning insights.
The EdStats portal gives access to comprehensive education data and statistics.
This platform lets you visualise and analyse global education trends.
Visit the site and start exploring datasets right away.
Some limitations exist. Licensed resources are available only to World Bank staff with institutional user IDs and passwords.
These restricted materials include specialised research papers and internal reports.
For course enrolment in World Bank Group programmes, you need to register through their Academy platform.
These programmes target government officials, civil society members, and development professionals.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole with 16 years of classroom experience, says: “Understanding which World Bank resources are publicly accessible versus restricted helps educators plan their research approach more effectively.”
Support and Community Helpdesks
The World Bank Academy offers structured support for users navigating their educational resources.
Their platform includes guidance sections and user assistance for technical issues.
Key support features include:
- Platform navigation guides
- Course registration assistance
- Technical troubleshooting help
- Resource location support
You can contact support directly through the Academy portal if you have access problems.
The World Bank Group Academy team answers questions about programme eligibility and registration requirements.
For data-related questions, the EdStats portal includes help functions.
These tools guide you through data visualisation and query building.
The interface provides step-by-step instructions for extracting specific education statistics.
Community forums within the Academy platform connect users with similar interests.
These spaces allow you to discuss education financing strategies and share insights with other practitioners.
Frequently Asked Questions

The World Bank offers educational resources ranging from data analysis tools to professional development opportunities.
These resources support educators, researchers, and policymakers working to improve global education outcomes.
What are the latest educational projects initiated by the World Bank?
The World Bank leads systemic education reforms across the complete education cycle.
Their current education sector strategy emphasises learning for all, aiming for inclusive and equitable quality education by 2030.
As the largest financier of education in the developing world, the World Bank works in 94 countries.
Their projects support governments through financing and technical assistance.
Michelle Connolly, founder of LearningMole with 16 years of classroom experience, says: “Global education initiatives like those from the World Bank provide valuable insights into systemic approaches that can inform teaching practices at every level.”
Recent initiatives address gender equality gaps in education.
Their research highlights ongoing challenges, especially for marginalised populations in developing regions.
How can I access and enrol in the World Bank’s complimentary online courses that offer certificates?
The World Bank Group Academy provides learning materials and expert insights for knowledge-sharing and capacity building.
Their resource hub offers comprehensive training opportunities.
You can access these resources through their online platform.
The Academy focuses on professional development for those working in international development and education policy.
Many courses target skills needed for education project management.
Others cover research methods and data analysis techniques used in global education assessment.
Where can I find the most recent educational data and research published by the World Bank?
The World Bank EdStats portal serves as your comprehensive source for education data and analysis.
This platform provides tools and resources to help you visualise and analyse education statistics.
You can use the EdStats data query system to select data, create queries, and generate charts and maps.
Their research publications are available through the Open Knowledge Repository.
These resources include assessment guides and country-specific case studies.
What are the newest educational courses available online from the World Bank for the year 2025?
The World Bank updates their course offerings through the Academy platform.
Current programmes focus on large-scale assessment projects and education policy implementation.
Training modules give practical guidance for education professionals.
These include assessment design, data collection methods, and policy evaluation techniques.
Professional development courses target skills for international education work.
Many programmes offer certification options upon completion.
What efforts is the World Bank making to improve education in developing countries?
The World Bank serves as the largest external financier of education in developing nations. It supports children from birth through adulthood with a range of education programs.
The World Bank helps countries share new solutions to education challenges. It focuses on reforms that create lasting change.
The World Bank also addresses education resilience in humanitarian contexts. It supports education systems in regions affected by crisis.
How can I obtain certifications through the World Bank’s training courses?
The World Bank offers certification programmes through their Academy platform. These courses help professionals in international development and education policy.
Each programme has its own requirements. Usually, you need to complete course modules and assessments.
Some programmes ask you to do practical project work or analyze case studies. Certified courses often teach technical skills for education project management.
Other courses focus on research methods and data analysis in global education assessment.



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