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Southeast Asia advances Foundational Learning through SEA-PLM participation at the CIES 2026
San Francisco, April 2026 - The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) programme took the global stage at the 70th Annual Meeting of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES 2026), highlighting how regional collaboration and evidence-driven approaches are advancing foundational learning across Southeast Asia. The SEA-PLM is made possible with the generous support of the Government of the Republic of Korea through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF).
Held from 28 March to 01 April 2026 in San Francisco, the global conference convened education researchers, policymakers, and development partners to discuss pressing challenges and innovations in education. Through continued investment in foundational learning, SEA-PLM showcased how large-scale learning assessments can support countries in translating data into actionable reforms, particularly critical in the wake of post-COVID-19 disruptions.
Under the symposium title “Foundations First: Investing in Foundational Learning to Transform Education Systems in Southeast Asia,” the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, co-led by the SEAMEO Secretariat and UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, brought together regional and international partners.
“Foundational learning is not only about school performance, but about children’s ability to participate meaningfully in life beyond the classroom,” said Alejandro Ibanez, speaking during the session.
SEA-PLM, the region’s first large-scale learning assessment designed by and for Southeast Asian countries, measures Grade 5 students’ competencies in reading, writing, and mathematics, alongside contextual data from students, teachers, parents, and schools. Supported by AKCF and key partners, the programme also plays a critical role in strengthening national capacity and enabling countries to monitor progress toward Sustainable Development Goal 4, particularly indicator 4.1.1b on minimum proficiency at the end of primary education.
Findings presented at CIES 2026 point to both progress and ongoing challenges. In 2024, 53 per cent of students across the region achieved minimum proficiency in reading, up from 46 per cent in 2019. In mathematics, the proportion rose to 68 per cent, compared to 56 per cent five years earlier. Despite these gains, a significant share of learners remain at risk: 15 per cent of Grade 5 students demonstrated very low proficiency in reading, and 9 per cent in mathematics.
Mr Alejandro Sinon Ibañez presented key SEA-PLM findings at the CIES 2026 Annual Meeting.
The session underscored that disparities continue to shape learning outcomes. Socio-economic status and language of instruction remain key determinants of student performance across SEA-PLM cycles, reinforcing the need for targeted, data-driven interventions, especially for the most vulnerable learners.
Country experiences highlighted how SEA-PLM evidence is informing reform. In Cambodia, SEA-PLM has been institutionalized within the national policy framework and supports SDG 4 reporting, alongside reforms such as the rollout of Early Grade Learning initiatives and strengthened primary education programmes. In the Philippines, SEA-PLM data is contributing to policy discussions on literacy and numeracy, teacher support, and diagnostic assessment systems, including the development of classroom-aligned tools and open-access item banks.
At the regional level, momentum is growing around foundational learning as a shared priority. Both Cambodia and the Philippines have endorsed the Global Commitment to Action on Foundational Learning, while broader ASEAN engagement is underway. The Philippines is also advancing an ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Foundational Learning under its current chairship.
Looking ahead, SEA-PLM, supported by its partners, aims to accelerate progress toward equitable foundational learning outcomes by 2030. The next assessment cycle, SEA-PLM 2029, is expected to further strengthen the role of data in shaping education policy and practice across the region.
As emphasized during the symposium, SEA-PLM’s mission goes beyond measurement: it seeks to drive systemic transformation by promoting evidence use, strengthening accountability, and fostering a shared regional commitment to ensuring that every child acquires foundational skills for life.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the Government of the Republic of Korea through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF). The content of this article is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of AKCF.
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Bridging Assessment and Classroom Practice: SEA-PLM brings Regional teams together for a Regional Capacity-Building Workshop
Phnom Penh, Cambodia - On 26 to 27 March 2026, the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat convened a regional capacity-building workshop in Cambodia, bringing together education representatives from six participating countries, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, to strengthen the use of assessment findings in improving teaching and learning. The capacity-building workshop was made possible with the generous support of the UK Government through the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme.
Held following a series of country planning meetings, the workshop focused on how evidence from SEA-PLM can be translated into more practical action within classrooms and education systems. Central to the discussions was the release of the 2024 Regional Snapshot on Writing Results, alongside national datasets on writing, providing countries with fresh insights to guide reflection and reform
The newly released writing results anchored the workshop’s opening sessions, prompting dialogue on how writing is taught, assessed, and supported across the region. Participants examined key issues emerging from the data, including gender disparities, socioeconomic gaps, language practices, and the preparedness of teachers to deliver effective writing instruction.
Building on this evidence, the workshop shifted its focus to curriculum mapping as a practical next step. The SEA-PLM Curriculum Mapping Study aims to help countries align national curriculum expectations with SEA-PLM assessment frameworks and proficiency standards. This alignment is intended to strengthen coherence between curriculum, classroom instruction, and assessment practice
Technical experts from the National Institute of Education at Nanyang Technological University and the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) supported the workshop sessions by sharing guidance on curriculum mapping as a practical bridge between policy, assessment, and classroom practice.
The experts, including Dr Christina Tong Li Lim, Prof. Ban Heng Choy, Dr Donna Lim Ching-Tse, Ms Stavroula Zoumbolis, and Ms Sandra Knowles, contributed to discussions on how curriculum mapping can help align assessment frameworks with national curriculum expectations and strengthen classroom implementation. Their inputs helped position curriculum mapping not only as a technical exercise, but also as a tool to support more coherent education planning and practice.
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(Left - Right) Ms Sandra Knowles, expert from ACER; Ms Christina Tong Li Lim, Mr Ban Heng Choy, and Ms Donna Lim Ching-Tse from Nanyang Technological University.
Phase 1 of the study focuses on developing practical curriculum maps in reading and mathematics at the primary level. These tools are designed to support teachers and curriculum officers in tracing how expected competencies align with SEA-PLM learning outcomes by the end of primary education
The Cambodia pilot served as the main example during the workshop. Participants were introduced to the methodology, the mapping templates, and the broader analytical approach developed under the study. Rather than asking each country to carry out a full mapping exercise during the session, the workshop focused on building shared understanding and preparing national teams for possible future application in their own contexts.
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Representatives from six participating countries Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Viet Nam during Capacity Building on Curriculum Mapping
Country reflections underscored both the value and challenges of the approach. Cambodia highlighted its usefulness in informing curriculum reform, while noting the ongoing need to ensure alignment between curriculum documents and classroom materials. Malaysia pointed to the exercise as a way to identify gaps in how skills are reflected in both curriculum and teaching practice. The Philippines emphasized that such approaches make assessment reporting more meaningful and actionable, while Myanmar recognized the adaptability of curriculum mapping across diverse national contexts.
Across the two-day workshop, a shared message emerged: assessment results should not end with reporting. Instead, they should inform curriculum development, strengthen teaching practices, and support more effective policy decisions.
As SEA-PLM continues to support countries in translating evidence into action, the Cambodia workshop marks another step in deepening regional collaboration and ensuring that assessment findings lead to meaningful improvements in education systems—bringing learning closer to the classroom and helping ensure that no child is left behind.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF) and the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’s Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of AKCF and ASEAN-UK SAGE.”
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From Data to Action: SEA-PLM showcases Initiative 2: Evidence-to-Policy strategy at the ASEAN-UK SAGE Evidence and Insights Forum
Jakarta, March 2026 - SEA-PLM convened a panel of representatives from participating countries at the Learning for the Future: ASEAN-UK SAGE Evidence and Insights Forum, held in Jakarta on 20 March, demonstrating Initiative 2 in action by translating data into concrete actions to strengthen systems and improve learning outcomes for all children.
SEA-PLM was featured as part of the Learning for the Future: ASEAN-UK SAGE Evidence and Insights Forum, held in Jakarta on 2–3 March 2026. The forum brought together policymakers, development partners, and education stakeholders to reflect on the future of learning in Southeast Asia and the role of evidence in shaping stronger education systems.
Throughout the forum, SEA-PLM contributed to the discussion not only as a source of regional learning data, but as a platform that supports countries in translating evidence into policy and practice. Its presence was reflected in both the policy discussions and the gallery walk, including a feature on the SEA-PLM Gender Report, the first regional secondary analysis research using the 2024 datasets.
Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim from SEAMEO Secretariat, gave a remark during ASEAN-UK SAGE evidence and insights forum
In her opening remarks, Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Secretariat, underscored the urgency of the moment. She noted that while Southeast Asia continues to grow economically and strengthen its global role, many children are still being left behind in education.
Drawing on recent regional evidence, she highlighted that SEA-PLM 2024 shows that one in two Grade 5 students in Southeast Asia is still not reading at the expected level. She also pointed to the wider challenge facing the region, with millions of children and youth still out of school. Her remarks served as a strong reminder that growth must be matched by real progress in learning and inclusion.
Datuk Dr Habibah also emphasized the value of SEA-PLM as a regional mechanism for monitoring progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 4. She noted that the findings from SEA-PLM 2024 point to continued learning challenges across the region, with reading outcomes remaining largely stagnant since 2019 and only a slight improvement seen in mathematics.
At the same time, she stressed that the results must be understood beyond averages. Learning continues to be shaped by factors such as socioeconomic background, language spoken at home, access to preschool, and the availability of textbooks and other learning materials. These patterns make clear that education inequality remains a central issue in the region.
The forum created space to move from evidence to action. Discussions explored how SEA-PLM findings are informing national responses and helping countries identify where support is most needed. Country experiences and technical sessions showed how data can support decisions on teaching, learning recovery, inclusion, and system improvement.
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Mr Sar Sarin from Cambodia, Dr Kevin Carl P. Santos from the Philippines, and Ms Sitthattha Taikeophithoun from Lao PDR presented their respective countries' experiences in transforming SEA-PLM data into actions
The forum also created space to move from evidence to action. A key part of the discussion featured representatives from Ministries of Education who shared their country experiences in translating SEA-PLM data into policies and actions. Mr Sar Sarin from Cambodia, Dr Kevin Carl P. Santos from the Philippines, and Ms Sitthattha Taikeophithoun from Lao PDR reflected on how SEA-PLM findings have helped inform national responses and shape education priorities in their respective contexts.
Their participation added an important practical dimension to the forum. It showed that regional assessment data become most meaningful when it is used by countries to guide decisions, respond to persistent learning gaps, and strengthen reforms that are grounded in evidence.
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Mr Alejandro Sinon Ibañez, and Ms Linda Johnsson from the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat presented the SEA-PLM 2024 regional results and key policy insights.
Mr Alejandro Sinon Ibañez, SEA-PLM Programme Manager, reinforced this point by highlighting the importance of connecting evidence with long-term reform. He emphasized that SEA-PLM continues to prepare for the transition from the 2024 cycle towards the next phase ,SEA-PLM 2029, allowing countries to track progress over time and respond with greater clarity.
He also stressed that the value of SEA-PLM lies not only in generating data, but in strengthening countries’ capacity to use it. This includes deepening policy exchange, technical mentoring, and collaboration across the region so that evidence can meaningfully inform targets, programme design, and reform priorities.
This forward-looking role is becoming increasingly important. More than a regional assessment, SEA-PLM continues to grow as a shared platform for cooperation, learning, and evidence-based policymaking among ASEAN Member States.
SEA-PLM’s contribution to the ASEAN-UK SAGE forum reflected that wider purpose. It showed that regional evidence can do more than describe learning outcomes. It can help countries ask better questions, identify persistent gaps, and shape more responsive education policies for the future. As the region looks ahead, the discussion in Jakarta offered a timely reminder: strong evidence matters because it helps ensure that progress in education is not only measured, but acted on.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’s Education (SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASEAN-UK SAGE.
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Strengthening Evidence Use: SEA-PLM Convenes National Meetings across participating countries
Bangkok, March 2026 - A series of SEA-PLM country planning meetings and National Steering Committee meetings in Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Viet Nam brought ministries, technical teams, and partners together to examine the 2024 results, reflect on Initiative 2, and map out what needs to happen next to strengthen foundational learning across the region.
Across Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Viet Nam, SEA-PLM convened a series of country-level planning meetings and National Steering Committee discussions that brought the regional evidence much closer to national priorities. While each meeting had its own context, the direction was shared: review the 2024 findings, reflect on the progress of Initiative 2, and identify where policy, planning, and implementation need to move next.
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SEA-PLM Country Planning meeting in VietNam, Cambodia, Lao PDR, and The Philippines
In the Philippines, discussions focused on how SEA-PLM evidence can continue to support national reforms, particularly through their Initiative 2 efforts in building teachers’ skills on assessments through capacity-building workshops and the curriculum mapping exercise. The meeting also gave space for stakeholders to look closely at the country’s results and discuss its implications in relation to curriculum reforms, teaching and learning, and assessment practices.
In Lao PDR, the conversation centred on how SEA-PLM evidence can be systematically leveraged to support the national education reform currently underway, particularly within the framework of the 6+3+3 structure. Discussions focused on how findings from SEA-PLM can inform reform priorities through Initiative 2, with an emphasis on item-by-item analysis to generate more granular insights into student performance in reading and writing, and to identify specific learning gaps that can be addressed through curriculum refinement and targeted interventions. Participants highlighted the importance of aligning these insights with ongoing curriculum reforms and strengthening their translation into classroom practice, particularly through continuous professional development (CPD) for teachers to enhance pedagogical responses to identified learning needs. The meeting created an important bridge between technical review and policy reflection.
In Cambodia, the planning discussions were closely tied to questions of implementation. Participants reflected on writing instruction, school improvement, assessment practices, and the need to understand more clearly what is happening in classrooms and why. The discussion showed strong interest in turning SEA-PLM evidence into more practical guidance for teachers and schools, especially in areas where improvement depends not only on data, but on consistent support and shared understanding of how to respond.
In Viet Nam, the meeting looked strongly to the future. Discussions connected SEA-PLM evidence with the implementation of the 2018 curriculum, the shift toward student-centred learning, teacher training, digital transformation, and support for more inclusive education. Viet Nam also used the meeting to shape how Initiative 2 can respond to national priorities while preparing for the broader regional agenda ahead.
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SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and National Team during the discussions
At the same time, the regional discussion went beyond the countries that hosted meetings in March. SEA-PLM’s 2026 workplan, presented at the Philippine meeting, noted that the planning and National Steering Committee discussions in Cambodia, Lao PDR, the Philippines, and Viet Nam would be followed by consultations with Myanmar and Malaysia. The update also highlighted capacity building on Curriculum Mapping as part of the agenda. This shows that even when SEA-PLM was not holding an in-country meeting in March, the process continued through regional consultations and curriculum-focused work. These efforts help connect assessment results with curriculum improvement and classroom practice.
Country voices throughout the meetings reflected that practical focus. In Cambodia, participants spoke about the value of helping teachers “translate the band into teaching guidance and how to teach better,” pointing to the need to make assessment findings more useful in the classroom. In the Philippines, the discussion underscored the need to keep “moving the needle forward on foundational learning,” while in Lao PDR the concern returned to how training can be sustained and translated into practice over time. Viet Nam, meanwhile, pushed the conversation toward how evidence can better support curriculum reform, teacher development, and stronger learning outcomes.
Taken together, the country planning meetings made one thing clear: SEA-PLM is no longer only a platform for reporting results. It is becoming a stronger space for countries to reflect together, test ideas, and turn evidence into action.
As countries prepare for the next regional discussions and the road to SEA-PLM 2029 begins to take shape, the call from these meetings is clear. Keep the dialogue active, keep the evidence close to policy, and make sure the next steps lead all the way back to the classroom where foundational learning is shaped every day.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF) and the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’s Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of AKCF and ASEAN-UK SAGE.”
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SEA-PLM is supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF) and the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of AKCF and ASEAN-UK SAGE.”
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SEA-PLM Launches the 2024 Main Regional Report on Foundational Learning in Southeast Asia
Pasay, December 2025 - Education leaders, partners, and stakeholders from across Southeast Asia gathered in Manila not only to mark the launch of the SEA-PLM 2024 main regional report, but to renew a shared commitment: that every child deserves the chance to build strong foundations in reading and mathematics.
Organized by SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, led by the SEAMEO Secretariat and UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), with the generous support of the UK Government through the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme, and hosted by the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd), the SEA-PLM 2024 Main Regional Report Launch brought together more than a hundred participants from SEA-PLM participating countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Viet Nam), as well as honorary countries Brunei Darussalam, Thailand, and Timor-Leste, alongside a wide wide community of regional and international partners.
The event marked the culmination of SEA-PLM’s second cycle and created space for a conversation that felt both technical and deeply human. Behind every chart and trendline, participants were reminded of real classrooms, real teachers, and real children navigating learning in a post-pandemic and rapidly changing world.
In his opening remarks, Mr Kamal Mamat, Assistant Director, Education, Youth and Sports Division, ASEAN Secretariat underscored that SEA-PLM’s value lies not only in measurement, but in meaning, particularly as the region shapes its future education priorities. His words resonated strongly with the audience, “each data point represents an individual child with potential and dreams”.
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(Left) H.E. Mr Sonny Angara, Secretary, Department of Education, Philippines. (Right) Mr Kamal Mamat, Assistant Director, Education, Youth and Sports Division, ASEAN Secretariat
That same spirit carried through the launch ceremony itself. Delegates and partners assembled a puzzle board to symbolize how progress in foundational learning is built, piece by piece, country by country, through collective responsibility. The visual reinforced the idea that improving education opportunities and shaping students’ futures in Southeast Asia requires sustained collaboration across systems and borders. This aligns with the remarks of His Excellency Secretary Sonny Angara where he noted “the spirit of regional cooperation, noting that ASEAN education has always been about “community rather than competition.”
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Acknowledgement and appreciation to the Governments of the United Kingdom, represented by Ms Isla Gilmore, Education Adviser, UK Mission to ASEAN, and the Republic of Korea, represented by Mr Jeung Kwan Seo, First Secretary & Infrastructure Attache, Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Manila
Support from partners was reaffirmed throughout the launch. The SEA-PLM Secretariat recognised the role of the Republic of Korea through the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF) and the United Kingdom through the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme in making the work possible. In particular, the Republic of Korea reiterated its commitment through “continued funding and technical support” for SEA-PLM 2029, alongside partner institutes helping translate evidence into policy and practice. The UK Mission to ASEAN also framed the 2024 Regional Report as a “call to action” urging stronger commitment to evidence-based policy-making and keeping foundational learning at the centre of national development.
SEA-PLM 2024 Tracks Learning Recovery and Equity Gaps in Southeast Asia
A major highlight of the day was the presentation of SEA-PLM 2024 results by the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat. The session explained how student proficiency is captured through SEA-PLM proficiency bands, and how the distribution of learners across these bands informs both policy and classroom practice. Importantly, SEA-PLM announced that all six participating countries now have reliable, internationally recognised data points for SDG 4.1.1b—minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics. Using this benchmark, the regional picture shows both progress and urgency: 53% of Grade 5 learners meet minimum proficiency in reading, and 68% meet minimum proficiency in mathematics, compared with 46% in reading and 56% in mathematics in 2019.
Mr Alejandro Sinon Ibanez, Mr Antoine Marivin, and Ms Linda Johnsson from the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat presented the SEA-PLM 2024 regional results and key policy insights.
Between 2019 and 2024, regional trends present a mixed story. While mathematics outcomes improved, reading performance remained largely unchanged. Gains were most visible among higher-performing students, while many learners remain clustered in the lower bands, underscoring the need to strengthen basic competencies and accelerate progress for those furthest behind.
From this evidence, three clear implications emerged:
- target investment where disadvantage is concentrated;
- strengthen system resilience in the face of uncertainty; and
- accelerate progress for learners at low proficiency levels, including out-of-school children.
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Participants, partners, and education stakeholders during SEA-PLM 2024 Main Regional Launch.
Equity remains the unfinished agenda
SEA-PLM 2024 findings reaffirm that equity challenges persist across gender, socio-economic status, access to early childhood education, and language spoken at home. The learning gap between students from the lowest and highest socio-economic quartiles reaches up to two years, while children who attended early childhood education outperform their peers by as much as one year of learning by the end of primary school.
Participants stressed that even when average performance improves, disparities can remain—or widen—if equity is not addressed explicitly. As a result, the message repeated throughout the day was not simply to raise scores, but to raise the floor and close the gaps through inclusive and gender-responsive systems, adequate resourcing for disadvantaged learners, and stronger alignment between language-of-instruction policies and learners’ home languages.
More than an assessment
Throughout the launch, SEA-PLM was repeatedly framed not as a one-off study, but as a shared regional mechanism for learning and reform. Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director, SEAMEO Secretariat described SEA-PLM in simple, powerful terms: “SEA-PLM is more than an assessment, it is a regional public good.” In closing the ceremonial launch, she emphasised that the day was about more than unveiling evidence. It was a reaffirmation that every child deserves essential skills—and that the findings demand bold leadership, strategic investment, and consistent use of evidence
She also announced that preparations are underway for the SEA-PLM Multi-Annual Strategic Plan 2026–2031, including the third assessment cycle, SEA-PLM 2029, aligned with SDG 2030 targets. As she reminded participants, “Evidence must lead to action, and action must lead to meaningful change.”
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Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim from SEAMEO Secretariat, and Ms Mitsue Uemura from UNICEF EAPRO gave an opening and closing remarks.
From Evidence to Practice
To move beyond headlines and into implementation, the launch featured three thematic breakout sessions focusing on: School leadership and teaching and learning, Gender, equity, and inclusion, and Scaling up foundational learning,
These sessions linked SEA-PLM evidence with promising initiatives and practical examples of what works in real education systems.
The day concluded with a strong sense of forward momentum. The SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat shared plans to develop a set of regional recommendations based on SEA-PLM 2024, feeding into a future regional declaration on foundational learning and the ASEAN Education Sector Workplan. Further analyses are also planned, including reporting on the writing domain in early 2026 and additional secondary analyses with partners and researchers.
In her closing remarks, Ms Mitsue Uemura (UNICEF EAPRO) returned to a metaphor echoed throughout the day: SEA-PLM results as a “compass.” A compass, she noted, only matters if it is used collectively—by coordinating efforts, sharing resources, and regularly checking progress.
She closed with an aspirational vision of Southeast Asia becoming the fastest-improving region globally in ensuring every child learns, anchored in the words of a learner shared earlier that day: “Let’s keep learning. Let’s keep moving.”
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SEA-PLM is supported by the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF) and the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of AKCF and ASEAN-UK SAGE.”
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Malaysia advances Evidence-to-Policy action through SEA-PLM Initiative 2 Strategic Workshop
Putrajaya, October 2025 - Malaysia convened its second SEA-PLM Country-Level Strategic Workshop under Initiative 2: Evidence-to-Policy Linkages, bringing together policymakers, technical experts, and development partners to translate learning evidence into concrete classroom-level improvements.
Convened in Putrajaya on 16–17 October 2025, the workshop built on Malaysia’s first country-level workshop held in May 2025 and aligned national priorities with the upcoming SEA-PLM 2024 Main Regional Report. The sessions were co-facilitated by the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, SEAMEO Secretariat, and UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), fostering cross-sector collaboration to connect data, policy, and delivery. The workshop was made possible with the generous support of the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme.
The focus of the workshop was turning these insights into action. Malaysia tabled the Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Expertise Enhancement Programme (FLNEEP) under Initiative 2, aiming to build a cadre of 100 teachers and trainers able to design high-quality assessment items aligned to international large-scale assessment frameworks. The proposal includes exploring responsible AI integration for item generation, coupled with expert review to ensure quality and appropriate difficulty, and complementary capacity building on differentiated pedagogy, fun learning, and 21st-century classroom practices. The team also highlighted the value of adapting learning materials so teachers can continually tailor instruction to the range of abilities in their classrooms.
Opening the workshop, the SEAMEO Secretariat underscored the importance of aligning national action plans with regional timelines. Key priorities included finalising Initiative 2 interventions, completing System-Level Questionnaire (SLQ) Module 3, strengthening coordination through the National Steering Committee (NSC), and synchronising communications ahead of the regional report’s release.
Workshop discussions created space for reflection on what the SEA-PLM data reveal about Malaysia’s education system. Malaysia’s multilingual context, where Malay, Chinese, Tamil, and English are used as languages of instruction, remains a source of inclusion and cultural strength, but also presents instructional challenges when learners’ home language differs from the language used in school.
SEA-PLM 2024 regional findings indicate performance gaps in reading and mathematics between students whose home language matches the language of instruction and those for whom it does not. These patterns highlight the need for sustained and targeted linguistic support, particularly in the early grades.
Participants also revisited the lasting impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and other school disruptions and challenges. While Malaysia’s no-repetition policy supported student wellbeing and continuity, participants agreed that targeted remediation is now essential to prevent early learning gaps from becoming entrenched.
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(Left to right) Dr Shamsuddin Mohamad, Dr Nor Saidatul Rajeah binti Zamzam Amin, Mr Azhar bin Mohd Khairy from Ministry of Education Malaysia, Ms Linda Jönsson from UNICEF EAPRO
Participants of 2nd Country Workshop Malaysia
In the coming months, Malaysia will complete SLQ Module 3, finalise its national report and policy briefs under NSC guidance, and prepare for the preliminary national launch on 5 December 2025, followed by a formal national dissemination event. Pilot activities for FLNEEP will also begin, with practical monitoring to document early lessons and inform scale-up.
This second country-level workshop marks a pivotal step in transforming analysis into action—strengthening learning foundations in reading and mathematics for Grade 5 students. Malaysia’s Initiative 2 agenda is more than a policy roadmap; it represents a clear commitment to ensuring that evidence leads to fairer opportunities and better learning outcomes for every learner.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASEAN-UK SAGE.
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Philippines Strengthens Evidence-to-Policy Linkages Through 2nd SEA-PLM Country Workshop
Manila, October 2025 - The Philippines convened its 2nd SEA-PLM Country-Level Strategic Workshop and National Steering Committee (NSC) Meeting to advance Initiative 2: Evidence-to-Policy Linkages, a regional effort designed to translate SEA-PLM data into actionable education reforms. The workshop is part of a continuing series sustaining country engagement following the 2024 main survey and preparing stakeholders for upcoming regional milestones. The workshop was made possible with the generous support of the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme.
The two-day workshop pursued four key objectives: to review and finalize national action plans and interventions under Initiative 2; to strengthen collaboration on SEA-PLM 2024, including the System-Level Questionnaire (SLQ); to convene the NSC for consideration of results and implications; and to align on forthcoming activities such as the regional report launch and related policy recommendations. Technical sessions were complemented by policy discussions through the NSC to ensure coherent strategies from the classroom to the system level.
The SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat presented the System-Level Questionnaire (SLQ) modules implemented in the 2024 survey, showcasing sample contextual indicators. Discussions focused on interpreting measures such as pre-primary and primary “life expectancy,” assessing instructional exposure (including shadow education), and aligning ILSA frameworks with the K–12 curriculum. The Bureau of Curriculum Development was invited to share its curriculum mapping paper to support these efforts.
DepEd officers outlined the newly enacted ARAL Law, which mandates daily literacy and numeracy sessions of 30–45 minutes, supported by teacher upskilling and adjusted workloads. Updates were also shared on the developments of language policy within the Department.
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(Left to right) Ms Gretchen Cordero, Dr Kevin Carl Santos From Department of Education Philippines, Mr Alejandro Ibanez from SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, Ms Linda Jönsson from UNICEF EAPRO
The National Steering Committee was formally recognized as an advisory body to DepEd on ILSA analysis, technical guidance, and evidence-based decision-making. Members underscored the importance of close coordination with technical working groups to ensure that SEA-PLM data informs classroom practice.
Priority follow-up analyses identified include a 2026 Language Policy Brief, learning-loss metrics, and deeper studies on the effects of early childhood education (ECCE) and socio-economic status (SES) on learning outcomes. The NSC also proposed developing a learner profile for “Type 2” low-performing students to guide targeted interventions. In addition, the committee agreed to channel SEA-PLM 2024 results into EDCOM2’s Year 3 report, following an agreed process that upholds embargo rules.
Participants reviewed regional trends from 2019 to 2024, methodological updates, and population-coverage variance, committing to further analysis using administrative and EMIS data. They noted stagnation among students in the lowest reading proficiency band and highlighted the need for enhanced support for emergent readers. The group also discussed the suitability of Band 6 thresholds for SDG reporting and proposed stronger alignment between SEA-PLM reporting and SDG 4 indicators.
Teacher, parent, and student with representative of DepEd, SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, and UNICEF EAPRO at the Santolan Elementary School
To conclude the programme, representatives from DepEd, the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, and UNICEF EAPRO visited Santolan Elementary School to observe classroom practices and hear from teachers, parents, and students about strengthening foundational literacy and numeracy.
The meeting ended with consensus to convene the next NSC session—beginning with the PISA Committee—to seek guidance on the national report, finalize the Initiative 2 project proposal, and organize a joint discussion among EDCOM2, the national team, and the Regional Secretariat on integrating SEA-PLM findings into EDCOM2’s ongoing policy review.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASEAN-UK SAGE.
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Cambodia convenes SEA-PLM National Steering Committee to advance evidence-to-policy agenda
Phnom Penh, October 2025 - Cambodia convened its 2nd SEA-PLM Country-Level Strategic Workshop in Phnom Penh on 6 - 7 and 9 October 2025, advancing a shared commitment to use assessment evidence to strengthen classroom teaching and learning. The workshop formed part of Initiative 2: Evidence-to-Policy Linkages, the programme stream designed to translate SEA-PLM results into practical, system-level actions. This 2nd country-level strategic workshop and National Steering Committee Meeting are made possible with the generous support of the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme.
Day 1 focused on SEA-PLM programme updates and discussed the 2024 regional preliminary results, including Cambodia’s preliminary 2024 country snapshots. Day 2 convened the NSC meeting with a bilateral meeting and continued consultations with the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat. Day 3 was dedicated to follow up on the System-Level Questionnaire (SLQ) with clarifications on Modules 2 and 3 to ensure Cambodia’s system-level inputs are precise and policy-relevant.
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H.E Borat Oung - Secretary of State and Head of the Cabinet of Deputy Prime Minister, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport Cambodia. Ms Linda Jönsson - Education Specialist UNICEF EAPRO gave opening remarks on the workshop
Ministry leadership emphasised sustained, evidence-based reform thanking the SEA-PLM Secretariat for supporting the National Action Plan and for convening the NSC. Participants used the workshop to align next steps and to coordinate responses to the SLQ Module 3 across relevant technical offices.
On planning, Cambodia set a 12 December 2025 target for the National Report, positioned ahead of the regional report launch. Deliberations stressed benefits for teachers, curriculum strengthening, and processes that embed continuous data use in schools.
Meeting on Day 2 under the chairmanship of H.E. Puth Samith, the NSC received its first formal briefing on Cambodia’s SEA-PLM results and consolidated direction across policy and technical streams. The Committee called for deeper analysis of national datasets (including student–teacher ratios), inclusion of cross-country policy insights in the national report, and stakeholder consultations before finalising the National Action Plan.
As part of the extended programme, Day 4 featured an advanced System-Level Questionnaire session with assessment expert Dr Victor Fei Lim, offering practical guidance on indicator design and interpretation for policy use.
Meeting with National Steering Committee during technical working group meeting
To maintain momentum, the NSC agreed to: convene a Technical Working Group meeting the following week and hold a follow-up NSC meeting to be chaired by the Deputy Prime Minister by the end of October to validate the national roadmap and shape the policy response for the regional launch.
The NSC also steered Initiative 2 toward direct classroom benefit: positioning the national technical team as trainers in MOEYS’ capacity-building efforts, integrating SEA-PLM concepts into pre- and in-service teacher training (including higher-order item design), and conducting curriculum mapping to support targeted teaching.
With a clear report timeline, concrete analytical directions, and senior-level ownership through the NSC, Cambodia is tightening the link between evidence and action—ensuring that SEA-PLM results inform teacher development, curriculum enhancement, and continuous improvement in schools.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (ASEAN-UK SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASEAN-UK SAGE.
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Evidence-to-Action: Timor-Leste Advances SEA-PLM in the 2nd Strategic Workshop
Bangkok, November 2025 - Timor-Leste marked a significant milestone in its engagement with the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) programme by hosting the 2nd Country-Level Strategic Workshop. Held from 1–3 October 2025 in Dili, the event built on the momentum of the first workshop in February 2025 and demonstrated growing interest in the importance of data and evidence in driving meaningful reforms and actions in the basic education system. .
In his opening remarks, Mr Apolinario Serpa Rosa, Director General of the Ministry of Education Timor-Leste stressed that “assessment results must be translated into improved learning for every child, not remain at the technical level.” He urged central and municipal counterparts to use SEA-PLM results to inform decision-making, emphasizing the need to integrate data into existing Ministry programmes, especially those supporting schools directly.
The SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat echoed this view, describing the series of in-country workshops as a “crucial juncture” where countries transition from data generation to policy and programme application.
Mr. Apolinario gave an opening remark in the workshop
The first day of the workshop featured an update from the SEA-PLM Secretariat on the 2024 survey cycle, including guidance on the embargoed status of results until the regional launch in December 2025. The briefing explained the proposed structure of the forthcoming regional report, emphasizing that national reports should complement rather than duplicate its scope.
A key message highlighted: countries that targeted the lowest-performing learners saw greater improvements and demonstrated stronger resilience in improving overall learning outcomes..
A participant from the National Directorate of Planning, Budget and Statistics remarked during the plenary discussion “This is the first time we clearly see how regional data can speak to our own plans. If we communicate it properly within the Ministry, SEA-PLM will not only be a report, it will inform our Saturday classes, remedial initiatives, and teacher mentoring.” This testimony illustrates an emerging national understanding that assessment should feed directly into existing Ministry mechanisms.
Day two focused on Initiative 2, a regional mechanism designed to support countries in piloting and scaling interventions informed by SEA-PLM evidence. Timor-Leste presented its working proposal titled “Learning Recovery Support for Low-Performing Schools Identified in the SEA-PLM Study.” The project includes: Development of literacy and numeracy recovery materials aligned with the national curriculum, Coaching, mentoring, and ICT-enabled support for teachers and school leaders, Establishment of a local support system to sustain improvements beyond the project period
A technical session on the School Learning Questionnaire (SLQ), facilitated by an expert from Singapore, allowed reflection on key policy dimensions such as teacher recruitment, bilingual instruction models, and in-service support. Timor-Leste’s unique bilingual context, Portuguese as the primary language with Tetum support and EMULI for local-language transition, was noted as both a challenge and opportunity, particularly in early-grade literacy.
(Left to right: Ms. Aly Nguyen - SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, Dr Yew Leo Wong - National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University , Mr. Alejandro Ibanez SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, H.E. Ms. Dulce de Jesus Soares - Minister of Education in Timor-Leste, Ms Linda Jonsson - UNICEF EAPRO, Mr Anwari - SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat
The workshop also convened the first meeting of the National Steering Committee (NSC) for SEA-PLM, which will oversee the conduct of SEA-PLM activities at the country-level,, manage national report drafting (with support from UNICEF Timor-Leste), and supervise the rollout of Initiative 2. The Ministry committed to share NSC’s Terms of Reference, membership, and calendar with the Regional Secretariat, and expressed interest in involving universities for deeper policy analysis.
A school visit capped the workshop, demonstrating how data-driven insights are beginning to inform local teaching and school management practices.
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Representative from Ministry of Education in Thailand and Brunei Darussalam participate in the capacity building workshop in SEA-PLM 2024 data analysis
The Timor-Leste workshop is fully aligned with the broader SEA-PLM 2024 country-support sequence taking place in the second half of 2025, which aims to: sustain national engagement after data collection, finalise country-level components of the Initiative 2 pipeline, and prepare all participating countries for the December 2025 regional launch. The Second Country-Level Strategic Workshop in Timor-Leste demonstrated that national ownership of learning-assessment data is growing to build a clearer understanding of how to position SEA-PLM findings within the Ministry’s broader reform agenda.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’s Education (SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASEAN-UK SAGE.
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Lao PDR convenes SEA-PLM National Steering Committee to Strengthen Data-to-Policy Linkages
Bangkok, September 2025 - The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) reconvened its Technical Experts Network (TEN) on 1–2 September 2025, bringing together leading specialists from across the region to strengthen the technical foundations of the programme and chart pathways from new data to actionable policy recommendations. The meeting was made possible with the generous support of the UK Government through the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme
The TEN was established in 2024 to serve as a technical advisory body to the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and provide independent, scientific guidance on methodology, survey design, and research priorities. Members – drawn from across Southeast Asia for their expertise in assessment, pedagogy, psychometrics, and policy research – serve for the full SEA-PLM 2024 cycle.
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Mr Outhit Thipmany, Deputy Director General of the Research Institute for Educational Sciences, Ministry of Education and Sports Lao PDR and Mr Cashel Gleeson, British Ambassador UK in Lao gave opening remarks.
Across the two days, the objectives were practical. The Ministry of Education and Sport Lao PDR team and partners reviewed and finalized Lao PDR’s Initiative 2 action plan. They dug into SEA-PLM 2024 Main Survey results and the system-level questionnaire, especially Module 3 on teacher policy and workforce and sketched how to report and communicate results. The group also looked ahead to the regional report launch in November and the development of regional policy recommendations, making sure national priorities and timelines line up with the wider regional workplan.
The agenda was paced to make progress. Day 1 updated everyone on the programme’s regional timeline, followed by a hands-on review of the system-level questionnaire with follow up on Module 2 and 3, and a consultation on the 2024 policy recommendations. Day 2 convened the National Steering Committee to discuss country snapshot results, key insights, and what those findings mean for reforms.
Representative of SEAMEO Secretariat, UNICEF EAPRO, and Ministry of Youth and Sport Lao PDR (Left to Right: Mr John Siena, Dr Jose Balmaceda, Ms Manoly Dongvan, Linda Jonsson
The highlight was formalizing the role of the SEA-PLM National Steering Committee (NSC). The NSC is meant to be the country’s “decision bridge” for SEA-PLM which provides strategic leadership, keeps work aligned with national priorities, and makes sure ministries, institutes, and partners are coordinated. Its functions are concrete, overseeing national workplans, guiding the technical team, reviewing deliverables like the national report and communications, and opening doors for evidence-based policy dialogue.
The Bangkok training gave the team the tools to analyze, the NSC provided the structure to decide, and the action plan set the rhythm to deliver. With the December regional launch on the horizon, Lao PDR is now better positioned to translate SEA-PLM 2024 results into policy briefs, budget-aware timelines, and classroom-level changes that teachers and students can feel.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’ Education (SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASEAN-UK SAGE.
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SEA-PLM Convenes 2nd Technical Experts Network (TEN) Meeting to Advance Evidence-to-Policy Agenda
Bangkok, September 2025 - The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) reconvened its Technical Experts Network (TEN) on 1–2 September 2025, bringing together leading specialists from across the region to strengthen the technical foundations of the programme and chart pathways from new data to actionable policy recommendations. The meeting was made possible with the generous support of the UK Government through the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme
The TEN was established in 2024 to serve as a technical advisory body to the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and provide independent, scientific guidance on methodology, survey design, and research priorities. Members – drawn from across Southeast Asia for their expertise in assessment, pedagogy, psychometrics, and policy research – serve for the full SEA-PLM 2024 cycle.
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Ms Mitsue Uemura (UNICEF EAPRO) & Mr John Siena (SEAMEO Secretariat) delivered opening remarks as SEA-PLM Co-Chairs
The network’s first gathering laid the groundwork for collaborative technical work. Over the past year, some TEN members have supported national teams in completing the System-Level Questionnaire Module 2 and providing few insights on country responses. These inputs now form a shared knowledge base that contextualises SEA-PLM 2024 results, informs policy dialogue, and underpins upcoming rounds of capacity building.
Mr Alejandro Ibanez Representing SEA-PLM Secretariat facilitate the discussion
The second meeting in Bangkok built on that momentum. Day 1 opened with programme updates and a first look at preliminary regional findings from SEA-PLM 2024. Participants exchanged views on insights emerging from Modules 1 and 2, before turning to policy reflections, including a session on the 2019 impact evaluation by KEDI (Korean Educational Development Institute). These perspectives helped frame how countries might translate assessment evidence into school- and system-level reforms.
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Experts and SEA-PLM partners during Technical Experts Network Meeting during the discussion session.
Day 2 focused on shaping Module 3 and drafting an initial frame for regional policy insights and implications to be embedded in the 2024 Main Regional Report.
Prof. Andres Sandoval Hernandez (University of Bath) underlined underscored the importance of the SEA-PLM TEN network in promoting technical rigor: “Strengthening the foundations of large-scale assessment means countries trust the evidence and act with more confidence”. Dr Eun Yong Kim, Director at KEDI, added that the network helps bridge research and practice: “TEN ensures that microdata and system-level insights translate into concrete steps that Ministries of Education can act on”.
SEA-PLM’s broader mission is to generate reliable comparative data, help countries interpret it, and support the use of evidence to inform policy. The TEN sits at the center of this process. After two days in Bangkok, members left with a refined Module 3, a sharper plan for regional recommendations, and renewed momentum to ensure data-driven insights reach decision-makers and ultimately benefit learners across Southeast Asia.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’s Education (SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASEAN-UK SAGE.
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SEA-PLM Strengthens National Capacity in Data Analysis of 2024 Main Survey
Bangkok, September 2025 - The SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat successfully conducted a two-week hands-on capacity-building workshop on data analysis from 18-29 September 2025, bringing national teams to strengthen their capacity to translate learning assessment data into meaningful policy insights. The regional capacity-building workshop was made possible with the generous support of the UK Government through the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme.
The training, held in two batches, convened teams from Lao PDR, Myanmar, and Timor-Leste in the first week, followed by Cambodia (online), Malaysia, the Philippines, and Viet Nam in the second. Honorary member countries Brunei Darussalam and Thailand also participated. Sessions were led by the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), and experts from the PISA team of the OECD.
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Mr John Arnold Siena (SEA-PLM Secretariat), Ms Renee Sze Leung Kwong (ACER), and Ms Soumaya Maghnouj (PISA) during technical workshop on data analysis
The workshop aimed to equip national teams with practical skills to manage and analyze their SEA-PLM 2019 and 2024 datasets. ensuring evidence could be transformed into meaningful policy insights. Over five intensive days, participants learned to navigate the SEA-PLM 2024 data structure, generate tables and charts, move from menu-driven analysis to SPSS syntax, and apply replicate procedures to calculate means, proficiency distributions, and percentiles. Teams also practiced merging student and parent questionnaires to uncover deeper insights, such as repeated grade percentages. Each batch concluded with country presentations of preliminary findings, followed by peer and expert feedback to guide next steps.
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Trainer from ACER and Participants during SEA-PLM Capacity Building on Data Analysis
A highlight of the second week was a comparative segment on SEA-PLM and PISA reporting. Trainers demonstrated how findings from both assessments can complement one another, while cautioning against overlooking differences in design, coverage, and target populations. Practical sessions covered the use of plausible values, replicate weights, and analytical tools such as IDB Analyzer to ensure rigorous reporting.
Unlike traditional workshops, the sessions emphasized reproducibility and real-world application. Participants worked directly with their own country datasets, developed analysis plans tied to national policy questions, and carefully documented their syntax for peer review. The goal was to ensure national teams left not only with technical skills but also with draft evidence-based narratives and visuals ready to inform reports and policy briefs.
Mr. Timothy of ACER highlighted the unique value of SEA-PLM: “The data allows countries to look beyond students and teachers to include parents’ perspectives, which provides a fuller picture for shaping national policies.”
From the participant side, Mrs. Sitthata of Lao PDR noted: “The training is directly useful for preparing our national report. We will continue consulting with SEA-PLM and ACER to ensure our analysis is accurate and impactful.”
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Representative from Ministry of Education in Thailand and Brunei Darussalam participate in the capacity building workshop in SEA-PLM 2024 data analysis
Through initiatives like this, SEA-PLM aims to ensure that assessment data does not remain on shelves but is actively used to guide classroom practice and inform national policy decisions. With stronger skills and a shared regional toolkit, participating countries are better equipped to embed data-driven insights into education reforms
The workshop wasn’t just theoretical. Participants practiced with their own files, worked through country-specific research questions, and documented syntax carefully so analyses can be reproduced and peer reviewed later. The aim is that teams leave ready to write clear, evidence-based paragraphs and visuals for national reports, not just spreadsheets.
SEA-PLM’ hope, with stronger skills and a shared toolkit, national teams will go deeper into their results and contextualize them into concrete actions, so assessment data doesn’t sit on shelves, but actually informs classroom practice and policy decisions.
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SEA-PLM is supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls’s Education (SAGE) Programme. Its content is the sole responsibility of the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and does not necessarily reflect the views of ASEAN-UK SAGE.
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SEA-PLM engages Education Ministers at the 53rd SEAMEO Council Conference in Brunei Darussalam
The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) joined in the recent 53rd SEAMEO Council conference, convened from 1 - 3 July 2025 at the Empire Brunei in Jerudong, Brunei Darussalam. The council conference witnessed the turn-over of the SEAMEO Council Presidency from the Philippines to Brunei Darussalam, highlighting a pivotal moment for renewed commitment for the advancement of education, science, and culture across Southeast Asia.
The SEAMEO Council Conference is a high-level annual meeting organized by the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO). It serves as a vital platform for member countries to engage in meaningful dialogue, exchange educational strategies, and adopt regional commitments to enhance quality and equitable education in the region. In a closed-door special session on “Regional Cooperation to Improve Quality and Equity in Education,” the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat unveiled preliminary regional findings from its 2024 Main Survey the first comprehensive cross-country look at post-COVID-19 learning outcomes in Southeast Asia. Centered on foundational learning among Grade 5 students, the briefing provided a clear, comparable snapshot of where recovery stands, where gaps persist, and which equity challenges demand urgent attention. By placing these early results at the heart of the discussion, the session framed a concrete agenda for regional collaboration using shared evidence to guide policy dialogue, target support, and accelerate learning gains across the region.
Mr. Alejandro Ibanez (SEA-PLM Programme Manager and Policy Specialist, and Ms. Linda Johnsson (Educational Specialist. UNICEF EAPRO), presented the results of SEA-PLM 2024
The session began with a presentation of key findings from the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) 2024 Main Survey. This presentation highlighted the continued regional collaboration to improve foundational learning outcomes. Of particular importance, the 2024 Main Survey offered the first comprehensive regional data on the learning achievements of children post-COVID-19, providing valuable insights to inform policy and practice.
The presentation was led by Mr. Alejandro Ibanez, SEA-PLM Programme Manager and Policy Specialist, and Ms. Linda Johnson, Education Specialist from UNICEF EAPRO.. The results, albeit under embargo, focused on regional trends and key patterns in various foundational areas of literacy and numearcy, and contextual factors from the data collected across the participating Ministries of Education of Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Timor-Leste, and Viet Nam.
The completion of the second round of SEA-PLM assessment, SEA-PLM 2024, registered high participation rates from students and schools across the seven countries, indicating fidelity to the sampling design and ensuring that results are nationally representative and demonstrate strong data reliability and comparability over time. The 2024 assessments were conducted in various national or official languages, increasing the number of national languages from 9 to 11, demonstrating the depth and inclusivity of the programme.
His Excellency Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, Secretary of Education for the Philippines and SEAMEO Council President give a closing remarks
Minister of Education of Brunei Darussalam and SEAMEO Council president, Her Excellency Datin Seri Setia Dr. Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Md Salleh, emphasized the significance of the SEA-PLM findings., “understanding these disparities is critical. SEA-PLM data equips us with the knowledge to create inclusive and effective educational strategies that ensure no child is left behind.”
Moving forward, countries have unified into a clear roadmap which showcased the commitment of participating countries to utilize the 2024 main survey data and generate meaningful insights that can help accelerate evidence-based reforms in their respective basic education systems. All of these actions lead to the strategic preparations for the next assessment cycle, SEA-PLM 2029, which offers a critical opportunity to deliver the final reporting on UN SDG 4 targets set for 2030.
In closing, His Excellency Juan Edgardo ‘Sonny’ Angara, Secretary of Education for the Philippines and outgoing SEAMEO Council President, highlighted the collaborative spirit driving SEA-PLM“ SEA-PLM exemplifies the collective action needed to address the region's educational challenges. It is through these joint efforts that will build stronger, more resilient education systems for the future of Southeast Asia.”
SEAMEO Council Conference successfully reaffirmed regional commitments to education, underscoring SEA-PLM’s essential role in fostering collaborative strategies for quality education and equity throughout Southeast Asia.
From Evidence to Impact: SEA-PLM highlighted in the 2025 NEQMAP Annual Meeting
At the NEQMAP 2025 Annual Meeting, three countries shared how SEA-PLM data is shaping policies and closing learning gaps.
On 8–9 July 2025, the Network on Education Quality Monitoring in the Asia-Pacific (NEQMAP) held its Annual Meeting in Bangkok, with support from UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Office for UN Coordination for Asia and the Pacific (UNESCO Bangkok) and the SEAMEO Secretariat. A dedicated session, organized by the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) Regional Secretariat, outlined how Cambodia, Malaysia, and Viet Nam are using SEA-PLM data and evidence to strengthen foundational learning.
Before the country spotlight, Mr. Alejandro Ibanez, SEA-PLM Programme Manager, emphasized that SEA-PLM drives two core initiatives: the cyclical SEA-PLM surveys, which provide data to monitor student foundational learning, and evidence-to-policy linkages, which aim to translate assessment results into actionable education reforms. As Mr. Ibanez noted, “The objective of SEA-PLM is to provide countries in Southeast Asia with reliable data to create meaningful educational policies and interventions.”
Building on this regional overview, the three representatives showcased how their countries are applying SEA-PLM evidence to strengthen curriculum, teacher training, and policy reforms in basic education. With the recent completion of the 2024 Main Survey, countries now have a critical opportunity to accelerate data-driven strategies to improve learning outcomes. It also helps advance reporting on the region’s performance under SDG 4.1.1b (Minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics at the end of primary school).
From left to right: Dr. Maszuraini Binti Miswan (Malaysia); Ms. Linda Jonsson (UNICEF EAPRO); Mr. Alejandro Ibanez (SEA-PLM Secretariat); and Dr. Khanh Pham Quoc (Viet Nam). Joining via Zoom: Mr. Sarin Sar (Cambodia).
In Cambodia, Mr. Sarin Sar, Deputy Director, Education Quality Inspection Department, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport (MoEYS), highlighted its Early Grade Learning programme, Komar Rien Komar Cheh, focused on Khmer and Mathematics, which significantly improved learners’ competencies through targeted teacher training and enhanced learning resources. “SEA-PLM findings have been instrumental in shaping our 10-point policy response, directly impacting our students’ foundational learning outcomes,” said Mr. Sarin.
From Malaysia, Dr. Maszuraini Binti Miswan, Principal Assistant Director at the Ministry of Education’s Research and Planning Division, presented the country’s curriculum mapping initiative, which aligned SEA-PLM assessment items with the national curriculum (Kurikulum Standard Sekolah Rendah, KSSR) and teaching strategy (Dokumen Standard Kurikulum dan Pentaksiran, DSKP). This alignment highlighted the need to strengthen Higher Order Thinking Skills (HOTS) in classrooms. Malaysia plans to address these in their upcoming 2027 curriculum revision and the development of their new education blueprint.
Meanwhile in Viet Nam, Dr. Khanh Pham Quoc, Deputy Director General of the Education Quality Management Agency, shared a major capacity-building programme guided by Ministerial Decision No. 468 (2023 Ministry of Education and Training decision approving a national general education assessment system for 2022–2030), which involved extensive training of educational managers and primary teachers across 63 provinces, resulting in an assessment item bank aligned with the SEA-PLM literacy and numeracy framework.
Together, the experiences of Cambodia, Malaysia, and Viet Nam demonstrate how SEA-PLM evidence is already shaping reforms at the national level. Building on these lessons, the discussion concluded with insightful exchanges on how large-scale assessments can drive smarter policies and stronger systems. It underscored the region’s shared commitment to advancing foundational learning by turning evidence into lasting change, ensuring that every child can learn and thrive.
The Network on Education Quality Monitoring in the Asia-Pacific (NEQMAP), established in 2013, is a regional platform for sharing knowledge and expertise on education quality. It focuses on student learning assessment as a key tool for monitoring progress, while also recognising the vital links with curriculum and pedagogy. NEQMAP is coordinated by UNESCO Bangkok.
Related Links
- 2025 NEQMAP Annual Meeting: https://neqmap.bangkok.unesco.org/2025-neqmap-annual-meeting8-9-july-unesco-bangkok/
- SEA-PLM Programme: https://www.seaplm.org/
- SEAMEO Secretariat: https://www.seameo.org
- NEQMAP Knowledge Portal: https://neqmap.bangkok.unesco.org/
- SDG4-Education 2030 Asia-Pacific Hub: https://unes.co/learningandeducation2030
- UNESCO Bangkok: https://www.unesco.org/en/fieldoffice/bangkok
- UIS Learning Assessments: https://uis.unesco.org/en/uis-learning-outcomes
