The ASEAN Working Group reconvenes at SKYVIEW Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand.

In a push to successfully complete the Phase 1 of ASEAN Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education Programme (ASEAN-UK SAGE), the SEAMEO Secretariat, through the EmpowerSAGE Project, has led in propelling regional efforts to improve foundational learning and address barriers faced by girls, out-of-school children and youth (OOSCY), and other marginalised groups. It has accomplished crucial initiatives in the first quarter of the year, building its work on governance, research and knowledge production, and pilot initiatives to support education reform across Southeast Asia.

Driving Governance

Under its convening role, SEAMEO was instrumental in the revitalisation of the ASEAN Working Group on Out-of-School Children and Youth (AWG on OOSCY), convened on 26–27 February 2026 in Bangkok, Thailand. Together, ASEAN Member States, development partners, and regional bodies reaffirmed strong commitment to addressing OOSCY through policy reforms, flexible learning pathways, and data-driven systems. It underscores the urgent need for coordinated action to support an estimated 11.8 million out-of-school children and youth in Southeast Asia.

The programme puts importance on data as a reliable driver that reinforces plans and complements initiatives. For this aspect of the work, SEAMEO led a comprehensive research programme to strengthen the evidence base on out-of-school children and youth in Southeast Asia. The Rapid Scoping Study, conducted in partnership with EdTech Hub, provided the first regional overview of the OOSCY landscape, surfacing key insights on data gaps, diverse drivers of exclusion, and the limited availability of published impact data on existing programmes.

SEAMEO commissioned three (3) country case studies in the Philippines, Indonesia, and Lao PDR on how governance structures, socio-economic factors, and non-formal education systems shape OOSCY trajectories at the national level. Four (4) thematic papers were also developed covering inclusion, mental health, education technology, and data and governance.

These findings were presented during the “Learning for the Future: ASEAN-UK Evidence and Insights Forum”, held on 2–3 March 2026 in Jakarta, Indonesia. In this forum, policymakers and partners identified priorities, including strengthening early childhood education, improving literacy and numeracy outcomes, enhancing teacher quality, and expanding equitable access to education. The session marked a pivotal shift from evidence review to action, asking delegations to reflect on their most pressing national priorities and how data is informing systemic reform.

Sustaining the Impact

Contributing to regional cooperation and sustained impact, SEAMEO also presented its progress and impact narrative during the 14th ASEAN-SEAMEO Secretariats’ Coordination Meeting on 11 March 2026, highlighting the importance of sustained support to the ASEAN Working Group on OOSCY and alignment with the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026–2030.