The SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, led by its Co-Chairs SEAMEO Secretariat and UNICEF EAPRO, convened the Extraordinary Session: Regional Consultation on the SEA-PLM programme held on 23 to 24 October 2024 in Bangkok, Thailand. The regional meeting brought together representatives from the Southeast Asian participating countries, along with delegates from the ASEAN Secretariat and ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF), to assess the ongoing implementation of the SEA-PLM 2024. The two-day event marked a significant milestone as participants reflected on the achievements of the 2024 Main Survey and laid the groundwork for SEA-PLM post-2024 directions and strategies.Country teams also engaged to discuss national strategies for resource mobilization, partner engagement, and the use of survey findings to inform policy-making and quality improvement

National Teams during the bilateral meetings with the Regional Secretariat

The session included presentations from SEA-PLM’s Regional Secretariat and national teams, which detailed the technical milestones of the 2024 Main Survey. National Project Managers (NPMs) and High Officials from the participating countries shared insights into country-specific challenges and strategies for successfully managing the survey. In addition to reviewing the survey progress,the multi-annual SEA-PLM Strategic Note 2026-2031, which provides the transition strategy to the next phase of the programme, including the third assessment cycle,  was also presented. Participants provided valuable feedback on the multiannual plan enhancing the regional work plan focused on post-2024 activities, including data analysis, reporting, and dissemination.

Mr. Anggiet Ariefianto, representative from the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund 

This regional consultation highlighted the progress on the 2024 Main Survey, with participating countries showcasing their commitment to the SEA-PLM programme. With the plans of action presented by the National Teams, the participating countries underscored their commitment to utilizing SEA-PLM findings to drive policy changes at the national level, discussing strategies for effective data dissemination and partner collaboration to ensure findings reach stakeholders.

Myanmar National Team during the plenary session along with the  representatives from UNICEF EAPRO, SEAMEO Secretariat, and the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat

As the SEA-PLM programme approaches the end of its 2024 cycle, this extraordinary session provided a meaningful opportunity to... strengthen partnerships, align strategies, and recommit to improving foundational learning for every child in the region.participating countries reaffirming their commitment to translating SEA PLM insights into actionable. commitment in translating  SEA-PLM insights into actionable policies that elevate the quality and equity of education across the region. With continued support from the ASEAN Secretariat and the AKCF, the SEA-PLM programme strengthens its collaboration with key partners and countries to make the programme more responsive and relevant in its mission to improving education outcomes for every child in Southeast Asia. This session reinforced a shared goal to use SEA-PLM data to improve primary education standards across Southeast Asia.

The Extraordinary Session: Regional Consultation on the SEA-PLM programme was graciously supported by the ASEAN Secretariat through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF). For more details on SEA-PLM please follow our X and Linkedin account.

*Photo Credit: (From Top Left to Right) Mr Antoine Marivin, Mr Alejandro S. Ibanez, Mr Ung Chinna, Mr Outhit Thipmany, Dr Shamsudin Mohamad, Dr Than Than Myint, Ms Mitsue Uemura, Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim,  Mr Anggiet Ariefianto, Mr Muhammad Harliadi, Dr Kevin Carl Santos, Mr Abraao Ribeiro Mendonca, Dr Quoc Khanh Pham, Mr John Arnold Siena, (From Bottom Left to Right) Mr Hav Khou, Dr Aye Thida Soe, Dr Soe Moe Lwin, Mr Aye Myint Than Htay , Dr Tri Ta, Ms Ha My Pham,  Ms Gretchen Cordero, Ms Sitthattha Taikeophithoun, Dr Azlin Abd Jalal, Dr Maszuraini Miswan, Mr Uttha Khamheang, Mr Sar Sarin