Southeast Asia’s education landscape continues to evolve amid rapid social, technological, and environmental shifts. These changes bring both opportunities and complex challenges—requiring stronger collaboration, sharper insights, and more adaptive education systems. Against this backdrop, the 48th SEAMEO High Officials Meeting (HOM) convened in Bangkok from 18–20 November 2025, drawing more than 150 delegates, including the 11 High Officials from all SEAMEO Member Countries, representatives from Associate and Affiliate Members, SEAMEO Centre Directors, development partners, and experts from across the region and beyond. As SEAMEO’s key annual platform for regional policy dialogue, the meeting once again served as a catalyst for shared action toward strengthened education, science, and culture cooperation in across Southeast Asia.

At its core, the 48th HOM conveyed a clear and shared message: meaningful transformation in education begins at the level of schools and communities.

The meeting opened with remarks from Ms Anongnat Chakaew, Secretary to the Minister of Education, Thailand, who underscored the enduring importance of regional solidarity in navigating emerging challenges. The momentum carried into the plenary session, where awards were presented to outstanding educators and school communities across the region. The SEAMEO-Jasper Research Award, the SEAMEO-Japan ESD Award, and the SEAMEO SEN Canva Creativity in Education Award highlighted the role of teachers, researchers, and students in driving innovation, promoting equity, and strengthening community resilience.

Throughout the meeting, SEAMEO Member Countries and 26 Centres and Network shared progress on major regional initiatives. Associate and Affiliate Members also contributed insights from their ongoing collaborations, while international organisations enriched the discussions with global evidence and perspectives. This collective effort demonstrated SEAMEO’s unique strength as a convening platform where research, policy, and practice converge to drive regional progress.

As the meeting concluded, the High Officials reaffirmed their shared commitment to advancing quality, equity, and sustainability in education for the region. With a forward-looking agenda—from accelerating foundational learning to empowering teachers, strengthening resilience, and expanding regional mobility—the 48th High Officials Meeting marked another milestone in SEAMEO’s mission to ensure that every learner, school, and community has the opportunity to thrive.

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