The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat and Youth Impact Philippines have launched a new initiative to help out-of-school children regain access to education and strengthen their foundational skills.

Part of the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) Programme, the pilot introduces a phone-enabled targeted instruction approach called ConnectEd, a proven approach that offers short, structured, level-appropriate learning support to bridge learners back into formal schooling.  The program is backed by randomized controlled trials across six countries and contexts, including the Philippines. The RCTs, published in Nature Human Behaviour and the National Bureau of Economics Research in collaboration with Columbia University, the University of Oxford, and J-PAL, show consistent effectiveness across contexts, including emergency settings. Effects translate to up to four years of high-quality instruction per $100 spent, placing it in the top 1% most cost-effective education interventions globally.

Launched Friday, 5 December 2025 in Manila, the event was attended by representatives from the Government of the Philippines and the United Kingdom, along with regional and international partners. Present were officials from the Department of Education (DepEd), the Ministry of Basic, Higher, and Technical Education (MBHTE), the SEAMEO Secretariat, the British Council, and Youth Impact Philippines.

The initiative responds to findings from the ASEAN-UK SAGE Rapid Scoping Study on Out-of-School Children and Youth (OOSCY), which highlights that 11.8 million children and youth in Southeast Asia are out of school. The study underscores the need for tested and practical solutions that can help learners regain foundational skills and re-enter formal education pathways.

The pilot will engage children aged 8–12 using phone-based, targeted instruction aligned with the Alternative Learning System (ALS) and the Academic Recovery and Accessible Learning (ARAL) Programme. The pilots approach includes delivering one-on-one numeracy tutoring sessions, which accelerate learning and catch them back up. The approach will be delivered in collaboration with DepEd, MBHTE, and Local Government Units, particularly in communities affected by typhoons, conflict, displacement, and other socio-economic challenges.

Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat, noted that the study’s findings highlight the urgency of reaching excluded learners.

“Millions of youth across our region remain outside the formal education system, and targeted solutions are urgently needed. We commend Youth Impact for its strong track record in delivering initiatives that reach marginalised learners. This collaboration strengthens foundational skills and creates a pathway for children to return to school—an important step towards more resilient and inclusive education systems in Southeast Asia,”

she said.

Ms Marilette Rito Almayda, Bureau of Alternative Education, Department of Education (DepEd), Philippines, highlighted the alignment of this initiative with priorities of the Department of Education.

“Ensuring that every learner has a pathway back to education is central to DepEd’s commitment to equity and inclusion. Reaching out-of-school children requires strong collaboration across government, communities, and development partners. This pilot supports our continuing efforts under the Alternative Learning System and the ARAL Program, providing targeted, flexible, and learner-centred approaches that meet children where they are. We welcome this initiative as an opportunity to strengthen evidence-based strategies that can help more young Filipinos re-engage with learning and thrive.”

Craig Farmer, Team Leader of the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme at the British Council, welcomed the launch as part of the programme’s growing work across ASEAN.

“We are delighted to introduce this pilot in the Philippines as part of ASEAN-UK SAGE’s targeted instruction initiatives across the region to test approaches such as mEducation that show strong potential for improving foundational learning. This pilot offers a practical, cost-effective way to support children’s reintegration, and we look forward to working with Youth Impact and our government partners as it moves forward,”

Mariel Bayangos of Youth Impact Philippines emphasised the importance of tailored support for out-of-school learners.

“Our goal is to help children regain confidence in their learning and take meaningful steps towards reintegration into school. mEducation (Connected) provides a practical and flexible way to reach learners wherever they are, especially in contexts affected by disruption. By drawing on global evidence and local expertise, we can deliver instruction that is effective and responsive to community realities. We are honoured to work alongside SEAMEO and our government partners in this effort,”

British Ambassador to the Philippines Sarah Hulton OBE highlighted the UK’s support for inclusive, quality foundational education as a key driver of growth and development.

“Education is the foundation for growth. It unlocks life-changing opportunities and drives national development. Through the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education programme, this project will bring evidence-based solutions for out of school children and youth to access meaningful and equitable learning opportunities and bring them back to school. Investing in education is one of the smartest decisions we can make, because by building strong foundations today, we create a future full of possibilities for generations to come,”

The initiative marks a significant step in the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme’s commitment to supporting governments to improve foundational learning outcomes and addressing the needs of the region’s most marginalised learners.

The ASEAN-UK SAGE programme is one of the UK Mission to ASEAN's five flagship programmes, delivered by British Council and SEAMEO Secretariat, in partnership with EdTech Hub and Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), and is an ASEAN cooperation programme funded by the UK International Development.

For media inquiries:
SEAMEO Secretariat – miguel@seameo.org
Youth Impact Philippines – mbayangos@youth-impact.org