In the last few decades, developing countries have witnessed remarkable improvements in physical access to schools, particularly in Asia.

The net primary education enrollment rate in this region in 2016 was over 90%. The problem is not access to education but rather its quality and relevance, as well as students’ capacity for lifelong learning. These all remain significant challenges in developing Asia. The good news is that information and communication technology (ICT) has enormous potential to address those challenges.

ICT can enable students to manage and monitor their studies and promote lifelong learning. Many ICT-enabled courses help students to develop soft skills, such as creativity, discipline, decision-making, and cognitive flexibility, among others, that will matter greatly for future jobs in the era of automation and artificial intelligence.

Both teachers and students need more opportunities for quality teaching and learning. —  blog.adb.org/blogs