The 2008 ICT Conference and Exhibition with the theme “ICT in Teaching and Learning” was successfully held in conjunction with the 43rd SEAMEO Council Conference and the 3rd ASEAN Education Minister Meeting on 10-12 March 2008 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The event which was officially opened by Dato’ Seri Hishammuddin bin Tun Hussein, SEAMEO Council President, was attended by 383 registered participants.

The Ministry of Education, Malaysia, hosted the 43^rd SEAMEO Council Conference in Kuala Lumpur, gathering all the education ministers and high officials of the 11 SEAMEO member states in the annual meeting that took up issues on access, equity and quality of education, among other education policies and initiatives. In coordination with the SEAMEO Secretariat, the 43^rd SEAMEC was held on 13-14 March 2008 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel. It was preceded by the ICT Conference and Exhibition on 10-12 March 2008 at the Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre. The highlights of this year’s council conference are the signing of the renewed Agreement between SEAMEO and UNESCO, the Policy Forum led by MOE Malaysia that discussed “Bridging the Education Gap: Improving Access, Equity and Quality – Southeast Asia and Beyond,” and a discussion forum on the progress of Education for All in Southeast Asia.

The SEAMEO Secretariat held simple ceremonies on January 14, 2008 for the turnover of leadership from outgoing Director Dr Edilberto C de Jesus to his successor, Dato’ Dr Ahamad bin Sipon.  Dr de Jesus was the Secretariat Director for three years starting in 2005, assuming the post immediately after his stint as Secretary of Education of the Philippines . Dato’ Dr. Ahamad bin Sipon was Director-General of the Ministry of Education, Malaysia upon his appointment.

Twenty-four teachers from different primary and secondary schools in Makassar, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, participated in the Workshop on the Development of Teaching-Learning Materials on Integrating Human Values in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Education held at the Makassar State University on 11-14 December 2007.