Hanoi, May 2026 - The 16th Regional Steering Committee (RSC) Meeting in Hanoi reaffirmed an important perspective: evidence matters, but only when it informs decision-making and drives change in schools, in classrooms, and in children’s lives.

This was the central message emerging from the 16th Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) RSC Meeting, held from 11 to 13 May 2026 in Hanoi, Viet Nam with support from the Government of the Republic of Korea through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF). The meeting brought together participating countries and partners to reflect on what the latest evidence means for the next steps in improving foundational learning across the region.

The Meeting commenced with a high-level dialogue with H.E. Mr Pham Ngoc Thuong, the Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam, and Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director, SEAMEO Secretariat, and SEA-PLM Co-Chair; and Mr Matt Brossard, Senior Advisor for Education, UNICEF Global Education Practice, and SEA-PLM Co-Chair underscoring the importance of Viet Nam’s strong leadership in advancing foundational learning and its enduring commitment to the SEA-PLM programme.

The meeting showed that SEA-PLM is increasingly being used not only to measure learning, but also to help countries understand where children are struggling, which groups may need more support and how national priorities can respond more effectively. For the SEA-PLM, this marks an important shift. Evidence is no longer treated as the final product of an assessment cycle. It is becoming the starting point for policy dialogue, national planning, and practical interventions that can reach teachers and learners.

The Regional Secretariat presented further analysis of the data, including findings on gender disparities. The analysis found that differences between girls’ and boys’ performance continue to be visible, with girls generally performing better in reading and mathematics.

Information from the SEA-PLM system-level questionnaire helped countries consider the wider conditions affecting learning, including curriculum reform, teacher preparation, school leadership, learning environments and support for children facing disadvantage.

The meeting also brought the evidence-to-action discussion closer to the classroom. As part of the Regional Steering Committee programme, participants visited Mai Dich Primary School and Kim Lien Primary School in Hanoi. The visits provided an opportunity to observe learning environments, engage with school communities, and reflect on how national and regional commitments can translate into meaningful support for children, teachers, and schools.

As SEA-PLM prepares for its next programme cycle, including SEA-PLM 2029, the RSC Meeting also provided an opportunity to consult on the SEA-PLM pluriannual Strategic Framework 2026-2031. The forthcoming cycle will continue to generate comparable information on children’s learning.

The discussion in Hanoi offered a reminder that data does not improve learning on its own. Change happens when evidence is understood, owned and used by the government for shaping education systems. SEA-PLM 2024 has given countries a clearer picture of children’s learning across the region. The task now is to keep that evidence moving from regional findings to national priorities, from policy discussions to classroom support, and from learning gaps to better opportunities for every child.