Increased demand for good governance is manifested in many countries as events and experience strengthen recognition that transparency and fairness are not simply abstract ideals but forceful concepts whose absence in practice extracts high social and economic costs - ideals whose realization is closely associated with the availability of education. Each of these areas of change has implications for education and training - their content, how they are provided, and how they will be financed. The obvious consequence of variety and rapid change is that any policy and strategy that seeks to guide ADB in maximizing the effectiveness of its investment in education must be inherently flexible. Flexibility must be the underlying principle upon which any policy is based. If ADB is to respond effectively to both the variety and the pace of change within its region, both its policy and operational frameworks must be adaptable and flexible.
Education is a moving target that evolves as old needs are met and new needs emerge.
Education influences and is influenced by the context in which it is developed. This synergistic relationship implies that education must be in a constant state of change as it responds to changing social and economic needs and that education itself is a force for social and economic change as people become more empowered and more productive. A major challenge is to ensure that ADB can provide effective support to education in an ever-changing social and economic environment.