Background

The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) has been established to promote the development of education, science, and culture in Southeast Asian countries for more than a half-decade.  SEAMEO as an inter-governmental organization by nature and privilege has followed the direction set by the education ministers of eleven Southeast Asian countries to support countries in achieving national educational objectives as well as a regional educational vision through bilateral and multilateral programs/activities in and beyond Southeast Asia.  Furthermore, SEAMEO has 25 SEAMEO Regional Centres and 1 Network located in 10 countries of Southeast Asia.  These Centres and Network have been both think tanks and implementing arms of SEAMEO in its own specialty through policy advocacy, technical/consultancy services, as well as capacity building programmes/activities, fora, research, and other intellectual and practical platforms and networks.  As we believe in the power of collectivism yet cherish individualism for its values.

At the 42nd SEAMEO High Officials Meeting in 2019, the proposal on SEAMEO Day to be celebrated every 30 November was presented by the SEAMEO Secretariat in other matters of In-Camera Session with the aims to educate educational practitioners and the public on issues of concern between SEAMEO Member Countries, to mobilize educational will and resources as well as to resolve educational challenges, and to identify and improve the achievement of education in the Southeast Asian region.  The creation of SEAMEO Day as an awareness-raising activity of the establishment of the SEAMEO as a powerful advocacy tool. The meeting supported the proposal on SEAMEO Day to be celebrated every 30 November. The proposal was endorsed for submission to SEAMEO Council for approval by referendum.

At the Non-SEAMEC year 2020, the SEAMEO Council approved by Ad-Referendum the Proposal on SEAMEO Day to be celebrated every 30th of November.

Since its establishment in 1965, the organization has taken pride in its achievements over the years as Southeast Asia’s longest regional organization for promoting quality education, science, and culture. Looking back at its inception on 30 November 1965, SEAMEO celebrated its 10th anniversary in 1975, the 25th silver anniversary in 1990, the 30th anniversary in 1995, the 45th anniversary in 2010, and the 50th anniversary in 2015 accordingly.

This year SEAMEO as an organization is 55 years old. SEAMEO Secretariat will set up a series of activities for the celebration of the 55th SEAMEO Anniversary (SEAMEO Day 2020) with the theme “Stronger Together for Quality, Accessible, and Responsive Education”.

Objectives

The objectives of the 55th SEAMEO Anniversary celebration (SEAMEO Day 2020) are as follows:

  • to commemorate the SEAMEO’s achievements and highlight its significant milestone of 55 years;
  • to enhance the SEAMEO’s profile, recognition and visibility nationally, regionally, and internationally; and
  • to provide a platform to highlight SEAMEO’s contribution to Member Countries and beyond.

Theme

The theme of the 55th Anniversary on SEAMEO Day 2020 is “Stronger Together for Quality, Accessible, and Responsive Education”.

Scope of Activities

To achieve the objectives of the celebration, the 55th Anniversary on SEAMEO Day 2020 activities at the regional level will be planned and implemented by SEAMEO Secretariat, in coordination with SEAMEO Units and SEAMEO Member Countries.

No. Activities Timeline Target Audience
1. SEAMEO Webinar on Leading for Impact: Educational Leadership
and Planning in Turbulent Times
 24 Sep 2020 Educators, learners and other stakeholders
2. SEAMEO CARES: Smart Schools Project in Border Schools of Southeast Asia 1st week of Oct 2020 2 Primary schools in the border of Thailand and Lao PDR
3. SEAMEO Photo Competition Sep – Nov 2020 Public
4. SEAMEO Centres Lecture Series Oct 2020 Educators, learners and other stakeholders
5. SEAMEO Youth Action (SEAYA) on COVID-19 15 Sep – 19 Nov 2020 Youth 15-21 years old
6. SEAMEO Essay Competition Oct – Nov 2020 Student all levels
7. SEAMEO Schools’ Network New Registration and Talk on Podcast Sep – Nov 2020 School all levels
8. Webinar on World Teachers Day: Leading Transformational Teaching in the New Normal Oct Teachers


It is suggested to SEAMEO Units and Member Countries to participate in commemorating the SEAMEO Day 30 November. An individual SEAMEO Unit can create its own celebration programme alone or by collaborating with other SEAMEO Centres and Member Countries.

The celebration at the individual SEAMEO Unit and Member Country can be include in the following activities: 

  1. Incorporation of the 55th SEAMEO Anniversary and/or SEAMEO Day logo in the SEAMEO Units’ Plan and Activities in 2020 such as
    • SEAMEO Centres’ annual meetings
    • SEAMEO Centres’ conferences, seminars forums   
    • SEAMEO Centres’ training, and research and development activities 
    • SEAMEO Centres’ Community Involvement Programmes

  2. Incorporation of the 55th SEAMEO Anniversary and SEAMEO Day Logo in the SEAMEO Units’ Printed Materials and Existing Media
    • SEAMEO Centres’ stationery such as letterhead, document folder, notepad
    • SEAMEO Centres’ profile presentation 
    • SEAMEO Centres’ meeting presentation template
    • SEAMEO Centres’ information brochures, training packages, event brochures, annual report 
    • SEAMEO Centres’ souvenirs 
    • Email signature of the staff

  3. Promote the Anniversary Activities by SEAMEO Secretariat and other SEAMEO Centres through the SEAMEO Centres’ Website and Social Media
    • The SEAMEO Units’ website should include the 55th SEAMEO anniversary and SEAMEO Day logo and information of the celebration.
    • Web banner of the 55th SEAMEO anniversary and SEAMEO Day should be posted on the SEAMEO Centre’s website and linked to the SEAMEO website (www.seameo.org).
    • Use the hashtag #55thSEAMEO #30NovSEAMEODay in the posting of social media.

  4. Display of the 55th SEAMEO Anniversary and SEAMEO Day logo at the SEAMEO Centres’
    • The SEAMEO Centres are encouraged to arrange a special exhibit for celebrating the 55th SEAMEO anniversary SEAMEO Day at an appropriate area in the Centre’s office such as in the library or lobby area.   

  5. Dissemination of the 55th SEAMEO Anniversary and SEAMEO Day Information/Brochures at the Centre’s Activities       
    • Dissemination at the Centres’ events or activities
    • Dissemination to the Centres’ network by email blast. 

 

Contact Person

Ms Anti Rismayanti
Programme Officer for Information and Development
anti@seameo.org

Ms Weerawan Theeraroungchaisiri
Programme Assistant
weerawan@seameo.org