Bouncing Back and Beyond: Understanding and Building Education Systems Resilience in South and Southeast Asia

Disruptions to education systems have been increasing in both frequency and intensity in South and Southeast Asia, including from the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as from natural disasters, political conflicts and social divisions. Various efforts, both localized and institutional, have been made to keep education consistent in the face of disruptions, but current strategies are proving inadequate. Student learning outcomes are becoming critically affected.  In this context, the idea of education system resilience is emerging as a key concept. However, research is needed to consolidate knowledge and practices required for building education systems that can anticipate and take on potential disruptions, while constantly adapting and improving.  Achieving this requires an understanding of the core drivers of resilience strategies. Experiences of past disruptions combined with foresight analyses can be a major source of knowledge for comprehensive resilience building.   

As part of the GPE KIX Observatory on Education System Resilience initiative, the project generates and mobilizes evidence for innovative resilience strategies that are sustainable, adaptive, and inclusive, contributing to education systems that can bounce back from current and potential disruptions while improving access, learning outcomes, and social inclusion. It identifies potential future disruptions, their possible effects on education and generates policy recommendations. The goal of the project is to produce insights and recommendations that expand the scope of resilience knowledge, encourage knowledge-sharing, and foster innovation for education system resilience domestically in each country and regionally.