Policies for teachers in Latin America during a pandemic: lessons learned and challenges ahead

This study aims to understand how education systems in Latin America have adapted to promote teaching excellence in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also aims to identify good practices that could be shared and adapted to different contexts.
In particular, the study seeks to answer the following questions:

• What actions have been implemented in the region to ensure working conditions for remote work and the return to face-to-face work?
• What training and support programmes and actions have been implemented or are being planned to support teachers in their implementation of distance education, hybrid education and face-to-face education models in the context of reopening?
• What actions have been taken or are planned in the medium term for the recruitment and selection of new teachers?
• It should be noted that the study focuses on government-led actions. The report recognizes the important role that civil society has played in several countries in supporting teachers during the pandemic and, in many cases, actively participating hand in hand with governments. Although the document refers to some of the experiences led by foundations or the private sector, mapping the strategies led by civil society would go beyond the scope of this study.

Key recommendations:

1. Ensure the development and consolidation of information and evaluation systems focused on student learning. 
2. Strengthen pedagogical and socioemotional training for teachers. 
3. Protect teachers’ working conditions and make teaching a more attractive career. 
4. Promote the autonomy and leadership of educational actors.
5. Ensure that investment in education improves. 
6. Use the scientific knowledge available to improve and strengthen learning.