Bangkok, 29 November 2022 – The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat in collaboration with the Ministry of Education of Thailand convened the first face to face 45th SEAMEO High Officials Meeting (45th HOM) since the COVID-19 pandemic at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Hotel &Towers from 28 to 30 November 2022. The Permanent Secretary, Dr Atthaphon Sangkhawasee, graced the Opening Ceremony of the Plenary Session on 29 November 2022.

Dr Atthaphon Sangkhawasee, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education Thailand,
presents the Opening Remarks

The 45th SEAMEO HOM was attended by more than 150 participants comprising the head of delegation and high officials from 11 SEAMEO Member Countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam), representatives from SEAMEO Associate Member Countries, Affiliate Members and 26 SEAMEO Regional Centres/Network as well as SEAMEO partners, such as the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, UNESCO Asia-Pacific Regional Bureau for Education (UNESCO Bangkok), Google for Education, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF EAPRO), GIZ, Southeast Asia One Health University Network, Google for Education, and many others as well.

The 45th SEAMEO HOM also highlighted the prestigious awarding ceremony which was officiated by Dr Atthaphon Sangkhawasee, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education, Thailand who awarded nine (9) awardees for three (3) significant awards.  Among the awards are the 2022 SEAMEO - Australia Education Links Award, 2022 SEAMEO - Japan ESD Award and the 1st Southeast Asian Educational Innovation Awards by SEAMEO INNOTECH.

2022 SEAMEO-Japan ESD Awardees

The Honourable, Mr Lai Chung Han, the Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Education (Singapore) chaired the 45th HOM before officially handing over the chairmanship to Honourable Atty Gerard L Chan, the Undersecretary for Legislative Affairs and Partnerships, Department of Education, Philippines.

Atty Gerard L Chan, Undersecretary, Legislative Affairs and Partnerships, Department of Education, Philippines chaired the meeting

The important sessions included the country reports on SEAMEO 7 priority areas implementation by the eleven (11) SEAMEO Member Countries, and the Partner Presentation Session on the proposed collaboration with the SEAMEO Secretariat and SEAMEO Regional Centre by over fifteen (15) global and regional development partners. 

Among the working papers which was tabled during the 45th SEAMEO HOM included reports on the Programmes/Activities under the SEAMEO Seven Priority Areas for Education, Science, and Culture by SEAMEO Units for FY 2022/2023, SEAMEO Inter-Centre Collaboration, and Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM).

The 45th SEAMEO HOM also marked the celebration of the SEAMEO 57th Anniversary on 30 November 2022 with the presentation of SEAMEO Song by the youth band from Bunditpatanasilpa Institute, Mahidol University and the showcase of the winners from the 2nd SEAMEO Youth Action Contest, and a message by SEAMEO Youth Ambassador, Mr Phiyachon Phumwiphat.

Celebrating the 57th SEAMEO 50th Anniversary by Bunditpatanasilpa Institute, Mahidol University on 30 November 2022

The outcome of the 45th SEAMEO HOM will be submitted to the 52nd SEAMEO Council, which is the highest governing body of SEAMEO and consists of the education ministers of the 11 countries of Southeast Asia. The 52nd SEAMEO Council Conference will be hosted by the Department of Education of the Philippines in February 2023.