Photo Credit: World Bank. Students from the Bislig Elementary School, Tanauan City in Leyte province, Philippines.

Southeast Asia is grappling with a profound learning crisis, one that has revealed alarming educational gaps across the region. According to the 2019 SEA-PLM report, 7 out of 10 Grade 5 students in Southeast Asia struggle to comprehend basic texts, and only 1 in 3 perform at the expected level for early primary education. Moreover, 65% of students are unprepared to meet the demands of secondary school curricula. These stark figures underline the urgent need for intervention, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has disproportionately affected disadvantaged learners. The ongoing challenges of school closures and disrupted education continue to obstruct progress towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4).

In response to this learning crisis, the SEA-PLM (Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics) programme, a flagship initiative of the SEAMEO Secretariat, plays a crucial role in tackling educational challenges across Southeast Asia. Recognising that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, SEA-PLM collects data from diverse contexts within the region, understanding that similar educational outcomes may arise from different underlying causes. Rather than solely focusing on the efficiency of student learning, the programme seeks to uncover the root causes behind learning difficulties, providing context-specific insights for policymakers. This approach ensures that education reforms directly address the unique challenges faced by each country, leading to more effective and targeted solutions.

Through its comprehensive data collection and benchmarking activities, SEA-PLM has significantly shaped regional policies, particularly in areas such as teacher training and curriculum development. The upcoming SEA-PLM 2024 survey, already underway in countries like Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Vietnam, seeks to align future assessments with the UN SDG 2030 targets.

Recognising that there is no one-size-fits-all solution, SEA-PLM collects data from diverse contexts within the region, understanding that similar educational outcomes may arise from different underlying causes. Rather than solely focusing on the efficiency of student learning, the programme seeks to uncover the root causes behind learning difficulties, providing context-specific insights for policymakers.

In her address at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris in June 2024, as the Asia Pacific representative for assessing transformative education actions and accelerating progress on Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG4), Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim emphasised the critical need for ongoing monitoring of learning outcomes in Southeast Asia. She underscored the importance of sustaining advancements in foundational education across the region. Also she stressed that SEA-PLM’s mission extends far beyond data collection; it serves as a catalyst for fostering knowledge exchange and building capacity among Southeast Asian nations. By doing so, the programme helps countries develop education policies and practices that are informed by context-specific data and evidence.

One of SEA-PLM’s significant contributions is the recent publication of its Compendium of SEA-PLM reading and mathematics items, which provides educators with a valuable resource to enhance teaching methodologies and classroom assessments. This compendium, which will soon be available in 11 national languages, exemplifies SEA-PLM’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, ensuring that educational resources are tailored to diverse linguistic and cultural contexts throughout the region.

SEA-PLM’s Role in Shaping Educational Reform Through Technical Collaboration

 

Behind the success of the SEA-PLM programme is a robust framework of technical collaboration and regional partnerships. From the development of assessment frameworks to the implementation of surveys, the programme has established a model of cooperation that brings together Ministries of Education, technical experts, and educators from across Southeast Asia.

Since its inception, SEA-PLM has created opportunities for SEAMEO Member Countries to collaborate on defining technical standards, sharing knowledge, and building capacity. These technical collaborations extend beyond survey implementation, as the programme works closely with participating countries to transform the data collected into valuable insights. These insights, in turn, are used to inform policy decisions and drive educational reform at both regional and national levels.

One notable achievement is the publication of the SEA-PLM Compendium, which includes publicly available reading and mathematics items designed to enhance students’ understanding of foundational skills. This resource, developed with input from educators, provides practical guidance on how to improve teaching practices and classroom assessments. The compendium’s upcoming translation into 11 Southeast Asian languages further highlights the programme’s commitment to ensuring that educational resources are accessible to all learners, regardless of language barriers.

The SEA-PLM programme exemplifies the power of regional collaboration in tackling Southeast Asia’s learning crisis. By bringing together stakeholders across the region, SEA-PLM is not only providing data but also driving meaningful changes that will shape the future of education in Southeast Asia.