Financing TVET: a comparative analysis in six Asian countries

Over the last years, technical and vocational education and training (TVET) has been rising in the political agenda of both the international community and many governments around the world. In the new Agenda for Sustainable Development, which will guide the actions of the international community for the next fifteen years, TVET is expected to address multiple demands by helping young people and adults develop the skills they need for employment, decent work and entrepreneurship, promoting equitable, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, and supporting transitions to green economies and environmental sustainability. Yet the question of how to finance this priority is still insufficiently explored.
In order to improve their ability to provide sound, evidence-based analysis and advice to their constituents, the French Development Agency (Agence Française de Développement, AFD) and UNESCO launched a regional comparative study on TVET financing approaches. Looking into the example of six Asian countries (Laos, Malaysia, the Philippines, Republic of Korea, Thailand and Viet Nam) and benchmarking them against international practices in Europe, Latin America, Africa and other Asian countries, this study raises issues and explores ways to respond to the challenge of TVET funding.