The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) programme continues to solidify its position as a key player in driving educational improvements across Southeast Asia, following a series of strategic meetings with its key regional partners. Led by its Co-Chairs from the SEAMEO Secretariat and UNICEF EAPRO, the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat conducted a courtesy visit and held discussions with the ASEAN Secretariat’s Education, Youth, and Sports Division (EYSD), the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), the Republic of Korea (ROK) Mission to ASEAN, the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI), the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) and These engagements focused on deepening collaboration and garnering support for the ongoing SEA-PLM 2024 cycle and future phases.
Advancing the SEA-PLM 2024 Cycle
In a meeting with the ASEAN Secretariat and the AKCF on 12 August 2024, discussions centered on ensuring the successful completion of the SEA-PLM 2024 cycle. The dialogue highlighted the critical role of SEA-PLM in addressing data gaps, particularly in tracking the region’s progress towards achieving the UN SDG 4 indicators. All parties underscored the importance of SEA–PLM in generating comparable data and insights that can inform educational policies and practices across the region. Additionally, the sustainability of the programme was discussed, with a focus on ensuring long-term success through capacity building and knowledge transfer.
Strengthening ties with the Republic of Korea
The SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat also paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Lee Jang-keun, Ambassador of the ROK to ASEAN, to express appreciation for the ongoing support provided by the ROK Mission to ASEAN. Ambassador Lee reaffirmed the Republic of Korea’s commitment to education as a priority sector and expressed its continued support for programmes like SEA-PLM that aim to improve education quality and equity in the region. The SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat mentioned that through the support of AKCF, SEA-PLM continues to attain global and regional recognition including its inclusion in the Joint Communique of the 57th ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting and its participation in high-level meetings of the United Nations on SDG 4.
Continued collaboration with the KEDI and KICE
The SEA-PLM delegation also visited Korean institutions such as the Korea Education Development Institute (KEDI) and the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) on 9 - 12 July 2024. The technical meeting with these partners focused on the development of the new multi-annual SEA-PLM Strategic Note (2026-2031), including the next set of collaboration under the next phase of the SEA-PLM AKCF project. Both KICE and KEDI expressed their commitment to supporting these initiatives, reaffirming their role as an implementing partner in supporting participating countries through provisions of technical assistance and capacity building initiatives.
A Collective Commitment to Educational Progress
The meetings with ASEAN-EYSD, AKCF, the Korean Mission to ASEAN, and KEDI reaffirmed a collective commitment to sustaining and advancing the SEA-PLM programme. The discussions underscored the importance of continued collaboration and leveraging regional and Korean expertise to enhance countries’ capacity to use data-driven evidence in transforming basic education systems. This shared effort aims to improve educational outcomes across Southeast Asia, ensuring that all children have access to equitable, high-quality education.
As SEA-PLM prepares for its next phase, the programme’s partners are united in their mission to drive educational reforms that will contribute to the achievement of the UN SDG 2030 Education Goals in Southeast Asia. Through these strengthened partnerships, SEA-PLM is positioned to make a lasting impact on the region’s education landscape.
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For media inquiries and more information, please contact:
Rizky Ashar (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat
