| 27 January 2012
The SEAMEO Secretariat, in cooperation with the Ministry of Education of Thailand, convened the 34th SEAMEO High Officials Meeting at the Grand Millennium Sukhumvit Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, from 17 to 19 January 2012. A total of 137 participants from 18 countries representing the 9 SEAMEO Member Countries, 5 Associate Members, 2 Affiliate Members, and 6 observer delegations attended the Meeting.
The Meeting concluded with the endorsement of the SEAMEO 10-Year Strategic Plan (2011/2020) and the five-year development plans of four SEAMEO Regional Centres, namely, SEAMEO RELC, SEAMEO RIHED, SEAMEO BIOTROP, and SEAMEO SPAFA. Progress reports were also presented on various existing projects and initiatives of the SEAMEO Member Countries, the SEAMEO Regional Centres, the SEAMEO Secretariat, and SEAMEO partners such as those that relate to Education For All, disaster risk reduction, and climate change. Proposals for greater collaboration on various priorities and concerns were also presented such as those by ICDE on distance and online learning, and UNICEF on Early Childhood Care and Education and Education for All.
During the Meeting, arrangements were firmed up for the implementation of the SEAMEO-Japan Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) Award, a new collaboration between SEAMEO and Japan that aims to promote ESD and recognize best practices on ESD in SEAMEO Member Countries. Another project launched at the Meeting was the Regional Fit for School Program, a project between the German Development Cooperation (GIZ) and SEAMEO INNOTECH that focuses on health of school children; and will be implemented in Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, and Philippines.
H E Woravat Auapinyakul, then Minister of Education of Thailand graced the Opening Ceremony and welcomed the delegates. During the Opening Ceremony, the winner of the SEAMEO Jasper Research Award 2011, Ms Ancilla Yinny Sakanti Irwan of the Atma Jaya Indonesia Catholic University, Indonesia, was given recognition by the Minister of Education of Thailand and Ms Caroline Mireault, Second Secretary, Embassy of Canada.
The High Officials Meeting is an annual event of SEAMEO that serves as forum for discussion on priority issues of SEAMEO, review of proposals, and presentation of accomplishments. The result of the Meeting will be submitted to the SEAMEO Council, the highest governing body of SEAMEO and consists of the education ministers of the SEAMEO Member Countries.
Meeting participants consisted of education vice ministers, undersecretaries, permanent secretaries, directors general, and other high-level education officials from the SEAMEO Member Countries and Associate Members and Affiliates. Other SEAMEO partners that attended the Meeting include the ASEAN Secretariat, UNESCO Bangkok, UNICEF EAPRO, Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT), Japan; Asian Development Bank, and Korean Education Development Institute. The SEAMEO Regional Centres and the Secretariat also participated in the Meeting.
Mr Haji Mahrub Haji Murni, Permanent Secretary (Core Education), Ministry of Education, Brunei Darussalam chaired the Meeting. He was assisted by Dr Witaya Jeradechakul Director, SEAMEO Secretariat.
The 6th ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education (SOM-ED), and the ASEAN+3 SOM-ED were also convened back-to-back with the 34th SEAMEO High Officials Meeting in Bangkok, Thailand.