MANILA - Despite progress over the recent decades, countries in Asia and the Pacific still face challenges in ensuring equitable access to education, according to an independent evaluation report released by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on Tuesday.

The report also noted that the region struggles to align the skills provided by education systems with the demands of the modern economy. As a result, many economies experience a surplus of graduates while facing skills shortages. The COVID-19 pandemic aggravated these problems.

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Hindered by insufficient resources, staffing, and structural changes, the ADB's education lending is at 5 percent, below its objective of 6 to 10 percent by 2024, the report added.

The report urges the ADB to adopt a more systems-based approach to better address the complex issues facing education systems in the region.

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The evaluation assesses ADB's contribution to education as a tool for poverty reduction and inclusive growth from 2011 to 2023.