Friday, February 20, 2026
Unlocking the Middle Tier: Learning Through Dialogue
There is much focus on the “middle tier” in Education systems in low- and middle-income countries at present. The middle tier describes groups of professionals at county, zone, district or provincial level whose role is to monitor and support schools (UNESCO, 2025). They are the people who often become master trainers or are tasked with supporting the implementation of a new curriculum or new initiative. The middle tier acts as a mediator between policy makers (top leadership) and implementers (teachers). We have argued that they are key actors in the implementation of high quality TPD@Scale, but that they often lack the knowledge, skills, and professional development opportunities to carry out this role effectively.
