From October 28 to 29, 2024, representatives from the SEAMEO Secretariat, SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, and UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office embarked on a fruitful mission to Timor-Leste, supporting the 2024 Main Survey implementation and launching  of the 2023 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) report on Technology in Education in Southeast Asia. 

Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director, SEAMEO Secretariat and Her Excellency Ms. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education of Timor-Leste during courtesy meeting.

The mission began with a courtesy visit to Her Excellency Ms. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education in Timor-Leste. This meeting has strengthened the partnership between Timor-Leste’s Ministry of Education and the SEA-PLM programme as the country embarks on its first participation in an international large-scale assessment. The meeting also reaffirmed the shared commitment to enhancing education for all Timorese children and across the region

Students of  EBC 1.2.3 Farol taking the SEA-PLM 2024 assessments

Supporting the 2024 Main survey test administration, the SEAMEO Secretariat served as International Quality Monitors (IQM) to observe the 2024 main survey processes and procedures in alignment with the SEA-PLM regional technical standards.  The monitoring process also includes recording best practices and national processes that capture the unique context of Timor-Leste. Schools visited included  in Timor-Leste include the EB Catolica 1.2.3 Santa Maria Auxiladora and EBC 1.2.3 Farol

Group photo of SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat with the representative of Ministry of Education and (From left to right,  Mr Abraão Mendonça, Mr Alejandro ibanez, Mr. Apolinario Serpa Rossa, Mr. Paulino Gomes)

Following the survey observation, the SEA-PLM team held discussion to evaluate survey implementation progress and exchanged feedback to further strengthen quality and ensure effective administration. 

Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director, SEAMEO Secretariat and Her Excellency Ms. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education of Timor-Leste

The mission concluded with the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat’s participation in the launch of the 2023 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Report on Technology in Education in Timor-Leste. Co-Developed by UNESCO and SEAMEO Secretariat, this report emphasizes technology’s transformative role in the region’s education sector, particularly through investments in digital skills and improved connectivity. With its findings tailored to the Southeast Asian context, the GEM report provides a roadmap for integrating technology in education. The report summary has been translated in Tetum, making it accessible to the local stakeholders.

The SEA-PLM mission in Timor-Leste was generously 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.