Displaying items by tag: SEAPLM

The SEA-PLM team met with His Excellency Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth, and Sport of Cambodia, during the country-level strategic workshop held on 31 March – 1 April. In a high-level dialogue, Dr. Naron shared the Ministry’s policy priorities and best practices in advancing foundational learning as part of Cambodia’s ongoing education reforms. Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, Co-Chair of the SEA-PLM programme from the SEAMEO Secretariat, also contributed to the discussion, emphasizing the programme’s shift towards in-country support through the new strategy on Evidence-to-Policy linkages.

His Excellency Dr. Hang Chuon Naron, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, Youth, and Sport of Cambodia and  Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim (SEAMEO Secretariat) at the start of the SEA-PLM Country level workshop in Cambodia

Following the high-level dialogue, the workshop introduced Initiative 2: the Evidence-to-Policy framework. This initiative aims to transform data and insights gathered from the SEA-PLM assessments into concrete, impactful educational policies. The evidence from the SEA-PLM 2019 highlighted a foundational skills crisis across Southeast Asia, with significant gaps in literacy and numeracy among primary school children. Addressing these challenges through evidence-based policies is a central goal of the initiative.

The workshop continued on its second day with robust discussions involving various stakeholders. Partners from diverse educational development organizations, the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport, and the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat convened to explored collaborative approaches to translate educational evidence into policy actions to drive impactful reforms at national and sub-national levels.

Mr Alejandro Ibanez (SEA-PLM Programme Manager) facilitated the discussion during a country workshop in Cambodia.

Day three featured an engaging session on the new SEA-PLM System-Level Questionnaire, expertly facilitated by Dr. Fei Victor Lim from Nanyang Technological University (NTU). This session unpacked the complexities of policy environments in basic education, providing participants with deeper insights into effective policy-making mechanisms.

Cambodia outlined essential next steps to continue advancing foundational learning initiatives. These include activating the national steering committee, finalizing an analysis plan, identifying collaborative opportunities with the Regional Secretariat, and analyzing the data from the SEA-PLM 2024 survey, expected to be available for the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Sport in August. Additional activities involve producing a comprehensive national report, conducting secondary analyses, participating in the Regional Steering Committee, and actively engaging in the upcoming Foundational Learning Forum.

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

The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) took centre stage at a major global education event, participating in the ASEAN Ministerial Roundtable on Foundational Learning held at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in London from 18–22 May 2025, as part of the 2025 Education World Forum. The roundtable brought together ASEAN Ministers and High Officials, led by SEAMEO Council President Sonny Angara and Vice President Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh, along with senior representatives from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Viet Nam, and Thailand. Discussions focused on the state of foundational learning across Southeast Asia and the urgent need to accelerate education reforms in response to the regional learning crisis.

Datuk Dr Habibah Abdul Rahim, SEAMEO Director, and Mr Alejandro Ibanez, SEA-PLM Programme Manager, at the Educational World Forum in London 2025.

SEA-PLM, represented through the SEAMEO Secretariat delegation and participating member countries, took part in the ASEAN Ministerial Roundtable to provide evidence and data on student’s foundational skills,highlighting both the urgent challenges and emerging policy responses drawn from robust regional data. 

The sharing from the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat focused on the tangible policy shifts that countries are implementing in response to these findings. For example, Lao PDR and the Philippines have initiated curriculum reform to improve early grade literacy, while Cambodia has increased investment in early grade learning following the pandemic. In addition, preliminary findings from SEA-PLM 2024 reveal promising improvements in various equity indicators and other learning metrics.

SEA-PLM’s new strategy Initiative 2: Evidence to policy linkages was spotlighted as a model for translating data into actionable reforms. This initiative supports countries in using assessment data to drive decision making at both national and sub-national levels.

As SEA-PLM prepares to release the 2024 regional results later this year, the insights are expected to provide countries with critical feedback on their post COVID recovery strategies. The result will also inform the programme’s strategic roadmap for 2026-2030, including preparation for the next regional assessment cycle, SEA-PLM 2029, which will align with the UN’s SDG 2030 targets.

Education World Forum 2025 Plenary Session

During the EWF, the SEA-PLM delegation also engaged in side meetings with key partners and stakeholders in the UK and beyond leveraging strategic partnerships and global coalitions to enhance the programme’s visibility and influence, and to sustain momentum in advancing foundational learning across Southeast Asia."  

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

After a week of regional discussions in Malacca on foundational learning, the momentum continued in Putrajaya, Malaysia with the Country-Level Strategic Workshop under SEA-PLM’s initiative 2: Evidence to policy linkages on 5 - 6 May. 

Following the successful implementation of 15th SEA-PLM Regional Steering Committee and the Foundational Learning Forum, the workshop contributes to Malaysia’s efforts to transform learning outcomes through data driven education reforms. During the workshop, the national teams and the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat engaged in in-depth discussions on the work plan to identify opportunities and areas for improvement in foundational learning in the country. These discussions followed the successful implementation of the 2024 main survey, with results set to be published towards the end of the year.

Her Excellency Ms. Fadhlina Sidek, Minister of Education Malaysia, joined the high-level dialogue on the first day of the meeting

The workshop opened with a high-level dialogue between the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and her Excellency Ms. Fadhlina Sidek, Minister of Education Malaysia. The dialogue put a spotlight on Malaysia’s successful implementation of the SEA-PLM 2024 Main Survey.

With participation from key departments across the Ministry of Education, education officials, technical experts, and national partners, the workshop dived deeply into 2024 preliminary results, highlighted key trends, and planned collaborative actions. The workshop  discussed translating this compelling evidence into practical reforms that strengthen foundational skills in reading and mathematics for all students in Malaysia.

Mr Alejandro Ibanez, SEA-PLM Programme Manager , shared the preliminary regional results of SEA-PLM 2024

One of the main takeaways from the discussions was the country’s strong commitment to ensuring that every child, regardless of background, acquires essential literacy and numeracy skills. This commitment was grounded in the SEA-PLM data, which not only highlighted gains but also exposed persistent challenges such as the enduring impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and widening equity gaps. These insights directly informed the development of a forward-looking national action plan aimed at addressing structural barriers in early grade learning and improving school conditions.

Participants from the Ministry of Education Malaysia and the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat 

Malaysia’s commitment to address foundational learning in the country is also reflected in its strategic use of SEA-PLM evidence to support ongoing national programs, such as the Reading Aid Programme, the basic literacy module, and Special Remedial Interventions. By anchoring these initiatives in robust, comparable data, the Ministry is well positioned to drive reforms that are not only responsive but also sustainable. 

Furthermore, the workshop also underscored the broader goals of SEA-PLM’s Initiative 2, enabling Southeast Asian countries to go beyond assessments and meaningfully link evidence to policy design and implementation. Looking ahead, the insights and plans developed during this workshop will contribute to the regional launch of the SEA-PLM 2024 report in November. This launch will not only present new evidence but also showcase how countries like Malaysia are responding, turning data into action and commitment into impactful outcomes. 

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

The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) programme, through its Co-Chairs,  proudly welcomed the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) of the United Kingdom as its newest Honorary Member Partner during the 15th SEA-PLM Regional Steering Committee (RSC) Meeting held in Malacca, Malaysia on 28 April 2025. 

FCDO was represented at the 15th RSC Meeting by Ms Isla Gilmore, Education Advisor at the UK Mission to ASEAN based in Jakarta, Indonesia. This partnership underscores a shared commitment to advancing evidence-based policies that improve learning outcomes and promote equity in education across the region. This marks a new milestone for SEA-PLM as it expands its network of regional and international partners supporting high-quality data collection, capacity building, and policy dialogue to ensure every child in Southeast Asia achieves foundational learning.

“We are pleased to welcome the UK as an honorary partner of the SEA-PLM programme,” said Datuk Dr Habibah representing SEAMEO. “Their commitment to gender equality and foundational learning aligns closely with our mission to foster inclusive and quality education systems in the region.”

The participation of the FCDO further amplifies SEA-PLM’s regional influence and reinforces its capacity to mobilize global support for Southeast Asian education reform. The SEA-PLM Programme is jointly governed by the SEAMEO Secretariat and UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office, and implemented in partnership with SEAMEO Member Countries, aiming to foster a culture of da0ta use to improve primary education systems and learning outcomes across the region.

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

On January 15, 2025, the 13th ASEAN-SEAMEO Secretariats Coordination Meeting took place at the ASEAN Secretariat Office in Jakarta, Indonesia. The gathering served as a significant platform for ASEAN and SEAMEO to discuss advancements in the region’s education agenda and review key initiatives, such as the outcomes of the annual regional meetings in education and related activities. 

The meeting delved into several pivotal topics including updates from both the ASEAN and SEAMEO Secretariats. The discussion featured detailed presentations on the progress of the SEA-PLM programme, the ASEAN-UK SAGE Programme, SEA-DREAM Programme, and the Roadmap for the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Southeast Asia. The meeting was attended by Ms. Rodora Turalde-Babaran, Director of the ASEAN Secretariat’s Human Development Directorate, Ms Amalia Serrano, Senior Officer Education Youth and Sports Division ASEAN Secretariat, Mr Muhammad Dika Harliadi, Officer at the Education, Youth and Sports Division ASEAN Secretariat, Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, Director of SEAMEO Secretariat, Professor Vina Adriany, Ph.D., Director of SEAMEO CECCEP, Mr John Arnold Siena, Deputy Director for Programme and Development of SEAMEO Secretariat, Mr Emiljohn Santillas, Policy and Planning Specialist, Alejandro Ibanez, SEA-PLM Programme Manager, and Mr Ansgar Shaefer, Head of Programme Developing Research Excellence and Mentorship in Southeast Asia (SEA-DREAM).

The ASEAN-UK SAGE initiative focuses on advancing girls’ education by addressing foundational learning gaps, supporting out-of-school girls, and promoting digital skills, with successful pilot project engagements in Cambodia, Lao PDR, and Timor-Leste. Similarly, the SEA-DREAM Programme, supported by Wellcome Trust and the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, aims to enhance health and climate-related research excellence in Southeast Asia through mentorship, regional collaboration, and the development of future research leaders. The meeting also underscored the progress on the Roadmap for the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on ECCE, a critical step towards ensuring high-quality early childhood care and education across Southeast Asia, through multi-stakeholder collaboration.

During the session, Mr Alejandro Ibanez provided an overview of the SEA-PLM programme's key achievements and ongoing initiatives. SEA-PLM serves as Southeast Asia’s regional large-scale learning assessment mechanism, aligned with SDG 4.1.1 indicators, to monitor and enhance education quality and equity across SEAMEO Member Countries.

Significant milestones highlighted at the meeting included the successful completion of the SEA-PLM 2024 Main Survey, which involved extensive data collection from students, parents, teachers, and school principals across participating countries. To ensure inclusivity, assessment materials were translated into 11 national languages. Another important advancement was the establishment of the SEA-PLM Technical Experts Network, designed to strengthen quality assurance and regional expertise.

In the upcoming months, SEA-PLM will organize country-level workshops aimed at supporting governments in transforming SEA-PLM data into effective educational policies. Additionally, the highly anticipated results of the SEA-PLM 2024 assessment are scheduled for release in the fourth quarter of 2025.

Looking forward, the SEA-PLM team presented their strategic vision to maximize the programme's impact by translating assessment findings into actionable policy recommendations, enhancing technical capacity-building, and securing long-term programme sustainability through improved governance and resource mobilization.

The meeting emphasized the need for stronger collaboration, leveraging SEAMEO’s reach and ASEAN’s convening power, highlighting complementarities in the delivery of the programmes. The collaboration is particularly needed as Malaysia takes the 2025 ASEAN Chairmanship with a focus on inclusivity and sustainability. Both parties agreed to intensify the partnership, optimizing existing resources at the regional-level from dialogue partners such as the Aus4ASEAN Futures which is a new flagship initiative to advance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) between ASEAN and Australia and the EU-ASEAN Sustainable Connectivity Package – Higher Education Programme (SCOPE-HE) which represents a significant step forward in EU-ASEAN cooperation in the region.

The 13th ASEAN-SEAMEO Secretariats Coordination Meeting reaffirmed both organizations' commitment to strengthening education collaboration and addressing regional challenges. By advancing foundational learning, research excellence, and early childhood education, ASEAN and SEAMEO continue to drive meaningful progress toward a more inclusive and equitable education landscape in Southeast Asia. The next coordination meeting will be hosted by the SEAMEO Secretariat scheduled in 2026.

Virtual | Anieluz Pastolero: The SEA-PLM 2019 data reveals that children who possess good physical and mental states and have basic knowledge and concern about environmental issues tend to perform better academically than those who do not. 

This was the crux of the discussion during the policy forum webinar on “Child Well-being and Learning in Six Southeast Asia: Insights from the SEA-PLM 2019 evidence” held virtually on 17 March 2023. 

The policy forum webinar discussed the study conducted by UNICEF-Innocenti Global Office of Research and Foresight highlighting bullying as the most prevalent form of violence experienced by children in school, affecting 35% of students from participating countries. The report recommends establishing a zero-tolerance policy towards bullying, offering counselling services, and promoting intercultural activities to create a secure learning environment.

Surprisingly, the introduction of environmental topics has a positive impact on children’s learning outcomes in reading, writing, and mathematics. The report found that children are concerned about various environmental issues such as pollution, water scarcity, energy shortages, and extinction of plants and animals.

Co-author of the report, Ms. Ximena Jativa, acknowledged the multifaceted nature of child well-being. She recommended intersectoral collaboration to ensure social and child protection, investing in basic WASH facilities (Water, Sanitation, Hygiene), reviewing policies on mental and physical well-being, allocating resources, and providing school-based safety nets like meals to ensure the holistic improvement of child well-being for Southeast Asian students.

While the SEA-PLM is primarily a learning assessment for grade 5 students in the region, Mr. Antoine Marivin, SEA-PLM Senior Project Manager, stressed the importance of investigating factors beyond the traditional cognitive proficiency tests that affect a child’s learning achievements.

The SEA-PLM findings highlighted the importance of being aware of the status of children in school and the need to prioritise their well being.

Manila, Philippines | Anieluz Pastolero: The Philippine Senate Committee on Basic Education cited the SEA-PLM 2019 evidence as a crucial resource in shedding light on the prevalence of bullying in schools and its impact on learning outcomes during the public hearing to review the implementation of the Anti-Bullying Act of 2013 on 13 February 2023. 

Led by Senator Sherwin Gatchalian, the Committee underscored during the hearing the use of data such as those provided by SEA-PLM 2019 and called for an improvement in reporting mechanisms to encourage students to report bullying incidents. 

The SEA-PLM 2019 data revealed that 63.2% of Grade 5 students in the Philippines experience bullying at least once a month in schools. This figure is consistent with the National Baseline Survey on Violence Against Children conducted by the Council for the Welfare of Children in 2016, which found that 65% of students in the Philippines have experienced bullying. The same level of prevalence is also affirmed by the data from the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA), which the Philippines participated in 2018.

The Philippine Senate hearing emphasized the need to address bullying in schools in the country and to prioritize the well-being of students. The data from SEA-PLM 2019 highlights the significance of the issue and the need for effective measures to address it, including improving reporting mechanisms and implementing policies that protect students from bullying and creating a safe school environment.

Project Manager Alejandro Ibanez represented SEA-PLM Secretariat and SEAMEO Secretariat in the said hearing.

From June 10^th until12^th the Cambodian Technical Team organised the training of over 250 Test Administrators and School Coordinators at Battambang University, Battambang. All SEA-PLM participant countries implement a standardized training to those selected to coordinate and administer the tests to students and questionnaires to students, parents, teachers and principals. This is to ensure the same steps and script is applied consistently across all schools.

Learning assessment, described by Director of Education Quality Assurance Department (EQAD) Mr. Ung Chinna as the current "pop-star of education" in Cambodia, is receiving increased emphasis at the policy level, promoting the better use of information generated through assessment to form the basis of education reform across relevant departments and key stakeholders. SEA-PLM plays an important role in this transition. Through providing capacity development to EQAD staff in how to manage large-scale assessments at international standards, the team are able to apply these standards to national and international assessments, and increasingly advocate for the need of assessment from the national to school level.

It is also through the support of major partners such as UNICEF that this growing focus and capacity in using learning assessments to identify gaps and inform educational reform is achieved. UNICEF Cambodia is a vital partner for SEA-PLM in Cambodia, contributing both funding and organisational support to its implementation.

The training, mostly delivered by Technical Team Manager Mr. Sar Sarin, was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports, UNICEF Country Office, SEAMEO Secretariat and the Australian Council for Education Research (ACER).