The historic city of Malacca became a vibrant hub of educational exchange and collaboration as 92 delegates from across Southeast Asia gathered for the “Scaling Up Foundational Learning in Southeast Asia: A Regional Forum”. The event brought together high-level representatives from SEAMEO Member Countries,, international speakers, esteemed speakers,, and partners with a shared mission to improve foundational learning for every child in the region. 

Co-organized by the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, with SEAMEO Secretariat, and UNICEF EAPRO as Co-Chairs, supported by the ASEAN Secretariat and the UK Government through the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme and  in partnership with the World Bank, the regional forum marked a pivotal moment in Southeast Asia’s journey toward achieving SDG 4 and advancing foundational literacy and numeracy of every child. 

The two day forum featured insightful sessions led by experts such as:

• Prof. Tahir Andrabi of Pomona College, representing the Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel
• Ms. Jessica Mejía from RTI International
• Dr. Rukmini Banerji, Karthik Menon, Usha Rane, andDivya Arora from Pratham International
• Dr. Hwa Yue-Yi from the Blavatnik School of Government, University of Oxford
• Ms. Anna Alejo, Education Consultant, UNICEF New York

Left to right: Mr Lars Sondergaard (World Bank),Mr Cristian Aedo (World Bank), Mr Craig Farmer (ASEAN-UK SAGE), Ms Linda Joensson (UNICEF EAPRO), Mr Tom Shepherd (British High Commissioner to Malaysia), Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim (SEAMEO Secretariat), Mr Alejandro Ibanez (SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat), Ms Isla Gilmore (UK Mission to ASEAN)

The forum opened with powerful remarks from Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim (SEAMEO Secretariat), Ms. June Kunugi (UNICEF EAPRO), and Mr. Tom Shepherd (UK Mission to ASEAN). Their message echoed the urgency of addressing learning losses in the region, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Through these sessions, participants explored global evidence on what works to improve foundational learning informed by the report producted by the Global Education Evidence Advisory Panel (GEEAP) such as structured pedagogy, teaching at the right level (TaRL), and the importance of translating data into policy through the SEA-PLM Initiative 2: Evidence to Policy Linkages.

One of the forum’s most dynamic moments was the gallery walk, where country delegations showcased their national initiatives, policies, and programs that have made a difference in improving foundational learning. From Cambodia, to Timor-Leste, participants moved from table to table, engaging in conversation, learning from each other’s best practices, and discovering new possibilities for collaboration. 

"Gallery Walk" session during the Foundational Learning Forum, featuring participation from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam.

This interactive exchange not only fostered regional solidarity but also strengthened cross-country networks. The forum emphasized that while the challenges are complex, collective solutions are within reach when knowledge and commitment are shared.

The final session focused on action planning, where each country's delegation drafted practical steps to scale up proven interventions and committed to evidence-based policymaking. The session underscored a key message of the forum: foundational learning is not just about early grades, it's about laying the groundwork for lifelong learning, inclusion, and social mobility.

The forum concluded with reflections from leaders such as Dr. Pia Britto (UNICEF), Mr. Christian Aedo (World Bank), and Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, who reiterated the call to act urgently, collaboratively, and equitably to ensure that Southeast Asia becomes the fastest improving region in the world that ensures that every child learns.

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The UK supports SEA-PLM through the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme, funded by UK International Development.