The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education of Thailand urged ASEAN member countries to collaborate in advancing the transformation of education across the ASEAN region towards a sustainable future. These efforts will be presented for endorsement at the 13th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting.

On August 23, 2024, the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education was held at the Ballroom of Chang Arena. The event gathered senior officials from the Ministries of Education of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore, and Thailand. Additionally, observers from Timor-Leste and representatives from the ASEAN education network were present, bringing the total number of participants to approximately 90.

The opening ceremony featured an address by Mr. Suthep Kaengsanthia, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Chairman of the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education. In his speech, Mr. Suthep highlighted the importance of the 19th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education as a crucial platform for exchanging ideas and experiences. The meeting also tackled key issues related to the development of education across the ASEAN region.

Additionally, the Permanent Secretary emphasized the pivotal role of education as a cornerstone for economic, social, and cultural development. He highlighted the challenges brought about by climate change and disruptive technologies in the digital age, which have significantly impacted ASEAN’s educational systems. He stressed the urgent need for comprehensive educational reform, addressing all levels of teaching and learning, and enhancing classroom environments. This includes advancing skill development to meet the demands of the digital labor market, supporting lifelong learning, and facilitating mobility across different educational stages. Furthermore, he underscored the importance of collaboration among ASEAN member countries to elevate educational standards and create more opportunities for learners, thereby shaping the future of education in the region.

The meeting agreed on the guidelines under the theme “Transforming Education in the Digital Era.” This involved reviewing the progress of the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2021-2025 and discussing the drafting of the ASEAN Work Plan on Education for the period beyond 2025. The meeting also assessed the current plan’s implementation status.

The representative of Lao PDR presented the outcomes of the ASEAN Ministerial Meeting and the Southeast Asia Regional Forum held in Vientiane, focusing on ensuring equal access to quality early childhood development and care. This included the drafting of “the Vientiane Statement on Equity, Access and Environment: Advancing Climate Resilience in Early Childhood Settings in ASEAN”. This statement underscores the importance of related policies, including research, the development of teachers and education administrators, and the involvement of parents, communities, and stakeholders in preparing for the environmental and climate challenges affecting early childhood development.

At the meeting, Mr. Ekkaphab Phanthavong, Deputy Secretary-General of ASEAN, provided an updated on the Intra-ASEAN Scholarship Programme for ASEAN Nationals. He also discussed the establishment of an educational platform under the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC).

The meeting also addressed significant collaborative efforts on education management in ASEAN and SEAMEO for 2024. This also included activities such as the SEAMEO-ASEAN Secretariat Meeting and the ASEAN-SEAMEO Joint Declaration on a Common Higher Education Space in Southeast Asia endorsed by the ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education which composed of SEAMEO high officials. Additionally, the meeting considered cooperation projects funded by the ASEAN-ROK Fund focusing on the monitoring and development of basic education management in ASEAN and the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM).

The meeting reviewed the progress of the Working Group on Higher Education Mobility, which was held in Manila, Philippines. Representatives from ASEAN universities presented updates on AUN projects and activities supporting the ASEAN Work Plan on Education (AWPE) and the ASEAN Plus Three Plan of Action on Education (APT WPE), highlighting their focus on regional education development and international collaboration.

The meeting also considered various initiatives and roadmaps in line with the ASEAN Declaration on Human Resources Development for the Changing World of Work and its associated roadmap. Singapore, in its role as Chair of the ASEAN TVET Council (ATC), provided an update on the council’s progress. Member states then had the opportunity to present their updates on the implementation of the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2021-2025. Key presentations included projects such as the ASEAN ROK TVET for ASEAN Mobility Project and the Regional Cooperation Programme to Enhance the Quality and Labour Market Relevance of Technical and Vocational Education and Training. Additionally, initiatives were discussed, including those focused on Women and Girls Education in ASEAN, the People-to-People Connect Programme under the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package, and Catalyzing Change: ASEAN Paths to ECCE Financing, among others.

The meeting underscored ASEAN members’ commitment and aspiration to work together in advancing education across the region. It emphasized the need to align ASEAN’s educational systems with the evolving digital landscape to ensure a sustainable future for all ASEAN citizens.

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