The SEAMEO Council President/Senior Minister of Education, Malaysia H E Dr Radzi Jidin and SEAMEO Secretariat, together with all the Education Ministers of SEAMEO Member Countries, have successfully conducted the SEAMEO Ministerial Policy e-Forum on COVID-19 Response last 18 June 2020, 09:30 AM (GMT +7).  This is the first virtual gathering of 10 Education Ministers and one Senior High Official of SEAMEO Member Countries as they shared their best practices and their responses to school lockdowns due to COVID-19 Pandemic. They have also shared their plans and policies as schools cautiously reopen after the lockdown. More than 20,000 participants have pre-registered for this activity and as of this writing, it has more than 21,190 views on YouTube.

The following attended the e-Forum:

  • H E Dr Radzi Jidin, Senior Minister of Education, Malaysia and SEAMEO Council President
  • H E Mr Ong Ye Kung, Minister for Education, Singapore and SEAMEO Council Vice President
  • H E Dato Seri Setia Awang Hj Hamzah bin Hj Sulaiman, Minister of Education, Brunei Darussalam
  • H E Dr Hang Chuon Naron, Minister of Education, Youth and Sports, Cambodia
  • Hon Prof Dr Ainun Na’im, representing H E Mr Nadiem Anwar Makarim, Minister of Education and Culture, Indonesia
  • H E Madam Sengdeuane Lachanthaboune, Minister of Education and Sports, Lao PDR
  • H E Dr Myo Thein Gyi, Minister for Education, Union of Myanmar
  • H E Dr Leonor Magtolis Briones, Secretary of Education, Philippines
  • H E Mr Nataphol Teepsuwan, Minister of Education, Thailand
  • H E Madam Dulçe De Jesus Soares, Minister of Education, Youth and Sport, Timor-Leste
  • H E Prof Dr Phung Xuan Nha, Minister of Education and Training, Vietnam

At the end of the e-Forum, the following key takeaways have been identified:

  1. Prepare learners for technological advancement and disruptions
  2. Develop diverse and flexible education platforms based on context
  3. Uplift the conditions of teachers and ECCE workforce  and expand training and professional development opportunities for all
  4. Reach out to the most  disadvantaged learners and schools
  5. Develop fullest potentials, skills, attitudes, and values of the learners required for 21st century workforce
  6. Improve education infrastructure and financing of education
  7. Strengthen collaboration with bilateral and multilateral partners and international organizations for desired educational outcomes

A Joint Statement of Ministers has also been proposed.

The e-Forum is open to everyone and the recording can be viewed on SEAMEO Secretariat's YouTube Channel by accessing this link: http://link.seameo.org/webinar/smpef.

 


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