On January 15, 2025, the 13th ASEAN-SEAMEO Secretariats Coordination Meeting took place at the ASEAN Secretariat Office in Jakarta, Indonesia. The gathering served as a significant platform for ASEAN and SEAMEO to discuss advancements in the region’s education agenda and review key initiatives, such as the outcomes of the annual regional meetings in education and related activities.
The meeting delved into several pivotal topics including updates from both the ASEAN and SEAMEO Secretariats. The discussion featured detailed presentations on the progress of the SEA-PLM programme, the ASEAN-UK SAGE Program, SEA-DREAM Programme, and the Roadmap for the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Southeast Asia. The meeting was attended by Ms. Rodora Turalde-Babaran, Director of the ASEAN Secretariat’s Human Development Directorate, Ms Amalia Serrano, Dika, Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of SEAMEO Secretariat, Mr John Arnold Siena, Deputy Director for Programme and Development of SEAMEO Secretariat, Mr Emiljohn Santillas, Policy and Planning Specialist Alejandro Ibanez, SEA-PLM Programme Manager, and Mr Ansgar Shaefer.
The ASEAN-UK SAGE initiative focuses on advancing girls’ education by addressing foundational learning gaps, supporting out-of-school girls, and promoting digital skills, with successful pilot project engagements in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Timor-Leste. Similarly, the SEA-DREAM Programme, supported by Wellcome Trust and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, aims to enhance health and climate-related research excellence in Southeast Asia through mentorship, regional collaboration, and the development of future research leaders. The meeting also underscored the progress on the Roadmap for the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on ECCE, a critical step towards ensuring high-quality early childhood care and education across Southeast Asia, through multi-stakeholder collaboration.
During the session, Mr Alejandro Ibanez provided an overview of the SEA-PLM achievements and ongoing efforts. SEA-PLM serves as the region's large-scale learning assessment mechanism reporting on SDG 4.1.1 indicators, playing a crucial role in monitoring education quality and equity across SEAMEO Member Countries.
Key SEA-PLM milestones presented at the meeting included the successful completion of the 2024 Main Survey. This extensive data collection effort encompassed surveys from students, parents, teachers, and school principals, with assessment materials translated into 11 national languages. Other highlights included the establishment of the SEA-PLM Technical Experts Network to enhance quality assurance processes and the launch of various thematic studies, including the strategic preparations for the next round of SEA-PLM assessment, SEA-PLM 2029.
Looking ahead, the SEA-PLM team outlined their strategic vision to maximize the program’s impact. Their focus includes translating assessment findings into actionable policy recommendations, expanding technical capacity-building efforts, and ensuring long-term sustainability through governance enhancements and resource mobilization.
The 13th ASEAN-SEAMEO Secretariats Coordination Meeting reaffirmed both organizations' commitment to strengthening education collaboration and addressing regional challenges. By advancing foundational learning, research excellence, and early childhood education, ASEAN and SEAMEO continue to drive meaningful progress toward a more inclusive and equitable education landscape in Southeast Asia.
