The SEAMEO Council President, Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Md Salleh, Minister of Education of Brunei Darussalam, conducted an official visit to Indonesia from 2 to 5 December 2025—the host country with the highest number of SEAMEO Regional Centres, a total of seven. These include SEAMEO BIOTROP; SEAMEO CECCEP; SEAMEO QITEP in Mathematics; SEAMEO QITEP in Science; SEAMEO QITEP in Language; SEAMEO RECFON; and SEAMEO SEAMOLEC. Collectively, these centres have long played a pivotal role in nurturing regional cooperation, innovation, and capacity development across Southeast Asia.

Accompanying the President was Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education of Brunei Darussalam and a senior official of SEAMEO. Their visit underscored Brunei Darussalam’s strong commitment to educational collaboration and the strengthening of regional partnerships.

During the visit, the President had the opportunity to explore several flagship programmes of the SEAMEO Centres hosted in Indonesia, including those focused on early childhood care; food and nutrition; open and distance learning; teacher quality improvement in STEM and language; and biodiversity and environmental research. These interactions allowed her to witness first-hand how the Centres are advancing SEAMEO’s mission to improve access, quality, and relevance of education in the region.

The delegation also received a warm and cordial welcome from the Ministry of Education of Indonesia, led by Dr Atip Latipulhayat, Deputy Minister, and Dr Suharti, Secretary General for Primary and Secondary Education. Their presence reinforced Indonesia’s strong partnership with SEAMEO and its commitment to supporting the work of the Centres.

The visit took place during a challenging period, as heavy rains and severe flooding struck parts of Sumatra, affecting schools, students, and communities. Many schools had to suspend classes temporarily, while students and teachers faced disruptions in learning and daily routines. Because of the urgent situation, Minister Dr Abdul Mu’ti was unable to personally welcome the SEAMEO Council President, as he was overseeing emergency response efforts to support affected learners and ensure educational continuity.

Despite the difficulties, the spirit of cooperation remained strong. The resilience displayed by educators and students alike highlighted the importance of SEAMEO’s ongoing work—ensuring that education systems across the region remain adaptable, inclusive, and responsive to emerging challenges.