The 53rd SEAMEO Council Conference (SEAMEC), Southeast Asia’s highest policymaking forum on education, was recently held in Brunei Darussalam, gathering Ministers of Education and high-level representatives from the 11 SEAMEO Member Countries, Associate Members, Affiliate Members, and development partners. Convened every two years, the SEAMEC provides a strategic platform for education leaders to review progress, share innovations, and set collective directions for advancing education across the region. In line with SEAMEO’s tradition of rotational hosting, the next SEAMEC will take place in Vietnam in 2027.

This year’s conference was held under the theme “Greening Education for a Sustainable Southeast Asia: Empowering Change Through Collective Action,” underscoring the urgency of integrating sustainability into education systems to equip learners for a changing world.

The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Haji Al-Muhtadee Billah ibni His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu'izzaddin Waddaulah, The Crown Prince and Senior Minister at the Prime Minister's Office, highlighting Brunei’s strong commitment to education and sustainable development. In his keynote address, the Crown Prince emphasised the transformative role of education, stating:

“I firmly believe that education is key for positive and transformative change. It is our responsibility to equip and empower our future generations with essential knowledge and skills to navigate and overcome these challenges.”

The Crown Prince further underscored the need for systemic integration of sustainability principles:

“This calls for the integration of sustainability principles across all aspects of education, from curricula and teaching methods to school operations, community engagement and institutional culture to effectively address interconnected environmental, social and economic challenges.”

In celebration of SEAMEO’s 60th anniversary in 2025, the SEAMEO Secretariat presented a porcelain plaque crafted using the traditional Benjarong technique (a centuries-old Thai art of hand-painting porcelain with intricate five-color designs, symbolising elegance and heritage) to His Royal Highness as a token of appreciation for Brunei Darussalam’ support and hospitality.

The three-day conference, hosted at the Indera Samudra Grand Hall of The Empire Brunei, featured four key sessions: the 7th Strategic Dialogue of Education Ministers (SDEM), the SEAMEO Special Session, the In-Camera and Plenary Sessions.

A major milestone of the 53rd SEAMEC was the 7th Strategic Dialogue of Education Ministers (SDEM), where Ministers and Heads of Delegation collectively adopted a Commitment to Action on Greening Education, underscoring Southeast Asia’s shared vision for sustainability through education.

At the heart of the dialogue was a regional effort to define what “Greening Education” means in practice. Ministers emphasised that greening education is not a stand-alone initiative, but a transformative strategy that should cut across all levels of education — from curriculum to community, from classrooms to policy.

In her address, Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh, Minister of Education of Brunei Darussalam, emphasised the urgent reality that the climate crisis is already affecting ASEAN economies:

“The climate crisis is impacting the GDP of ASEAN Member Countries, and by 2030, the world faces an alarming shortage of green skills. To thrive in a low-carbon economy, we need a workforce equipped with the right knowledge and competencies.”

The SEAMEO Council’s Commitment to Action outlines the region’s unified approach to embedding sustainability as a core pillar of education. The endorsed statement includes six key focus areas: Policy Alignment, Curriculum Integration, Inclusion for Climate Resilience, Teacher Capacity, Advocacy and Awareness, and Monitoring and Impact.

By adopting this Commitment to Action, SEAMEO Member Countries reaffirmed their dedication to transforming education systems to be more environmentally responsive, socially inclusive, and globally relevant. The endorsed statement calls upon SEAMEO Regional Centres, partners, and networks to collectively advance greening education efforts and empower youth to actively engage in climate solutions.

The Ministers also recognised the leadership of Brunei Darussalam, host of the 53rd SEAMEC, for its national launch of the Greening Education Plan Book, a national framework for embedding sustainability across the education sector. The Crown Prince joined in endorsing the plan, marking a significant milestone in advancing the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) through education.

Held as part of the 53rd SEAMEC, the SEAMEO Special Session convened Ministers of Education and key partners to spotlight flagship initiatives that bridge education and health, reinforcing SEAMEO’s commitment to holistic development in Southeast Asia.

The session featured four strategic programmes:

• SEA-PLM (Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics) presented preliminary findings from the 2024 cycle, offering evidence-based insights into students’ foundational skills and progress across participating countries.
  
• OECD’s Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) shared results from its 2022 cycle, highlighting student performance in reading, mathematics, and science across eight SEAMEO countries. Also, the OECD introduced the PISA Happy Life Dashboard, a tool that visualises student well-being across nine dimensions—including psychological health, resilience, social relationships, and study-life balance. The Dashboard helps policymakers and educators better understand how education systems support students’ holistic development beyond academics.
  
• ASEAN-UK SAGE (Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education) showcased collaborative efforts to improve access to quality education for girls and marginalised learners, focusing on foundational learning, digital inclusion, and policy reform.
  
• SEA DREAM (Developing Research Excellence and Mentorship in Southeast Asia) introduced a new regional research initiative on health priorities, supported by a USD 52 million fund from Wellcome Trust and the UK FCDO, aiming to build stronger research ecosystems in the region.

The Special Session served as a platform for structured dialogue on aligning SEAMEO’s programmes with national priorities, promoting sustainability and policy integration, and expanding regional partnerships. Ministers actively engaged in discussion, offering feedback and recommendations to enhance the reach and relevance of these initiatives.

During the In-Camera and Plenary Sessions, 53 working papers were reviewed and approved, covering a wide range of SEAMEO initiatives, programmes, and policy directions. These sessions also featured presentations highlighting innovative projects, regional collaboration opportunities, and new approaches in education, health and well-being, sustainability, and digital learning.

A key moment of the conference was the handover of the SEAMEO Council Presidency from Hon Juan Edgardo “Sonny” Angara, Secretary of Education of the Philippines, to Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh. The new President will serve a two-year term until 2027, continuing SEAMEO’s mission of fostering inclusive and sustainable education.

Reflecting on his term, Secretary Angara shared:

“We are honoured to celebrate two significant achievements—the 60th anniversary of SEAMEO and the 53rd SEAMEC. During my term, the launch of the 7-7-7 Initiative stood as a flagship achievement, reflecting strong leadership aligned with SEAMEO’s seven priority areas.”

He also highlighted the progress made in modernising education systems:

Looking ahead, he called for continued regional collaboration:

In conjunction with the conference, delegates participated in learning visits to Universiti Brunei Darussalam and Pengiran Anak Puteri Hajah Masna Secondary School. These visits showcased Brunei’s innovative practices in higher education and secondary education, particularly in promoting sustainability and environmental awareness within academic and community settings.