The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat joined the global celebration of International Literacy Day 2022 through a Webinar in line with this year’s theme, Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces on 8 September 2022, Thursday, 14.00 to 16.00 hrs, GMT+7 Bangkok Time. Speakers of the webinar discussed how we are able to reframe, rethink, and subsequently transform learning spaces for literacy, whether at home, community centers, or in digital spaces.

Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela, SEAMEO Secretariat Director, and Mr Raúl Valdés-Cotera, Team Leader at UNESCO Institute for Lifelong Learning opened the webinar by setting the context and reminding participants of the urgent need to reimagine literacy learning spaces. Ms Cecilia Soriano of Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE) discussed the gains, challenges, and prospects of literacy learning spaces in Asia and the Pacific. Meanwhile, Ms Punramol Sutthirit from the The Office of the Non-Formal and Informal Education (ONIE), Ministry of Education, Thailand and Dr Lynn G Mendoza of the Schools Division Office of Occidental Mindoro, Department of Education, Philippines, shared their experiences on policy and programme implementation to transform learning spaces.

Mr Gerson Abesamis of Habi Education Lab discussed how to utilise Design Thinking in reimagining literacy learning spaces. Reflections were provided by Ms Wong Lai Cheng of SEAMEO RECSAM and Mr Lucky Lumingkewas of Aflatoun International afterwards. They also talked about what they are doing in transforming learning spaces on science and mathematics education, and social and financial literacy, respectively.

The webinar ended by a call to action from Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela to bring the discussions and learnings from the webinar to the participants’ respective schools, organisations, and communities. Over 1,200 concurrent participants across the region and beyond participated in the webinar in celebration of International Literacy Day 2022.

The speakers and moderator of the SEAMEO Webinar on Transforming Literacy Learning Spaces in celebration of International Literacy Day 2022 on 8 September 2022

To read more about the webinar: https://www.seameo.org/Main_programme/366
To watch the webinar: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK9ePKpnf1Q