Southeast Asia has made significant strides in digital education, but the digital divide remains a pressing issue. According to the 2023 Global Education Monitoring (GEM) Southeast Asia Report on Technology in Education, while digital learning tools are expanding rapidly, a significant portion of students are excluded from these advancements. In rural and remote areas across Southeast Asia, nearly 30% of students still lack reliable internet access, severely limiting their opportunities to engage with online learning platforms. Furthermore, only 56% of schools in rural areas have access to high-speed internet, compared to 85% in urban centres. This disparity results in unequal educational experiences, leaving many students without the tools necessary for modern learning.

Digital literacy remains a significant challenge, with nearly 40% of teachers in Southeast Asia reporting insufficient training in using digital technologies in the classroom, further exacerbating the digital divide. For many, this divide not only limits access to education but also perpetuates inequalities, particularly for students in the poorest regions.

To address this issue, the 2023 GEM Southeast Asia Report on Technology in Education — jointly developed by the SEAMEO Secretariat and UNESCO’s Global Education Monitoring Report team — offers valuable insights on leveraging technology to create an equitable, inclusive, and effective education system for all.

National Launch Events: Advancing Digital Education in Southeast Asia

In November 2023, the 2023 GEM Southeast Asia Report on Technology in Education was unveiled in Bangkok during the 46th SEAMEO High Officials Meeting.

Following this, the SEAMEO Secretariat and UNESCO GEM Report Team are committed to launch the Report in all Southeast Asian countries. In 2024, we have successfully hosted launch events in Viet Nam, Brunei Darussalam, Timor Leste, and Malaysia, with more launches scheduled in 2025. These national launch events convened policymakers and education leaders to explore how the report’s findings can help bridge the digital divide and enhance education across the region.

The discussions underscored the urgent need to integrate technology into Southeast Asia's education systems, ensuring that digital tools are tailored to meet the diverse needs of learners.

To make the report more accessible, the GEM Report Summary was translated into 8 languages, including Burmese, Bahasa Melayu, Indonesian, Khmer, Lao, Tetum, Thai, Vietnamese. These translations help foster a more inclusive conversation on technology in education, relevant to each national context, and support the shared goal of ensuring that every student has the digital tools to succeed.

To access the full report and translations, visit the official website: https://www.unesco.org/gem-report/en/2023-southeast-asia

Hosted by SEAMEO VOCTECH in conjunction with the Centre’s Governing Board Meeting on 24 October 2024, the national launch was attended by Yang Mulia Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin, Permanent Secretary (Core Education) of the Ministry of Education. The discussion focused on strategies to ensure that technology benefits all learners.

Brunei Darussalam

Brunei Darussalam

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Timor-Leste

The launch on 29 October 2024 was organised by the Ministry of Education in partnership with UNICEF Timor-Leste. Her Excellency Madam Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education of Timor-Leste led the discussions on the role of technology in fostering equitable access to education in the country, where connectivity remains a significant challenge.

Timor-Leste

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The national launch in Malaysia, held on 5 December 2024, was hosted by SEAMEO RECSAM, in collaboration with SEAMEO SEN, and attended by Puan Aniza Kamarulzaman, Director of the Educational Resources and Technology Division, Ministry of Education Malaysia. The event emphasised the importance of improving digital literacy among teachers to better integrate technology into classrooms.

Malaysia

Malaysia