Displaying items by tag: SEAPLM 2024

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

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.”

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 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.

On 15 and 16 July 2025, the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, led by representatives from the SEAMEO Secretariat, in collaboration with Myanmar’s Ministry of Education, successfully conducted the 1st Country-Level Strategic Workshop in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar. Teams put “evidence-to-policy” front and center, and equity trade-offs in decision simulations that asked a simple question: which interventions will lift foundational learning fastest ?

Dr Zaw Latt Tun, Deputy Director General of the Department of Education Research, Planning, and Training, delivered an insightful presentation on the progress of Myanmar’s Education Sector Reform Agenda. Highlighting ongoing efforts, she emphasized the country’s long-term commitment, referring to Myanmar's special four-year education development plan (2000-2004) and the comprehensive 30-year long-term basic education plan (2001-2031). Dr Tun explained that these plans aim to enhance access to and quality of education, underpinning national development and preserving Myanmar’s rich cultural heritage.

One of the workshop’s highlights was the discussion on Myanmar’s National Action Plan, presented by Deputy Director General U Aung Htike from the Department of Myanmar Examination. He outlined Myanmar’s strategic initiatives derived from the SEA-PLM 2019 results, such as promoting early learning and increasing school enrolment, particularly in disadvantaged communities. The presentation included innovative steps like developing literacy and numeracy guidebooks and an instructional video to support teachers and students. Mr Aung Htike noted that “these actions are designed to bridge learning gaps and ensure all children receive the foundational skills essential for lifelong success”.

Workshop sessions and during the Country-Level workshop in Nay Pyi Taw, Myanmar

Representing the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, Deputy Director for Programme and Development Mr John Arnold Siena expressed gratitude to Myanmar's Ministry of Education for the successful implementation of the SEA-PLM 2024 Main Survey. He mentioned, “With at least two comparable data points over time, Myanmar is now in a stronger position to contribute to international reporting on SDG 4.1.1b, which tracks minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics at the end of primary education”. This comparative analysis enhances the Ministry’s ability to understand learning trends and formulate effective policies informed by regional assessment data. 

The workshop concluded with a reaffirmed commitment from Myanmar’s Ministry of Education to continue leveraging SEA-PLM data for ongoing educational improvement. This strategic alignment not only supports Myanmar’s educational reform goals but also contributes significantly to the regional effort towards achieving sustainable development goals. 

As Myanmar prepares for the release of SEA-PLM 2024 results later in this year, the insights and collaborative outcomes from this strategic workshop provide a robust foundation for sustained educational progress and policy innovation.

The Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) of Viet Nam, in close collaboration with the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) Regional Secretariat, SEAMEO Secretariat, and UNICEF EAPRO, convened the 1st SEA-PLM country-level strategic workshop on June 11 - 12, 2025, in Hanoi. This strategic event is part of SEA-PLM’s ongoing efforts to help countries harness the power of data to improve foundational learning outcomes across Southeast Asia. The workshop is a key component of Initiative 2: Evidence-to-policy linkages, which seeks to build national capacity to interpret, contextualize, and act upon student learning assessment data for more effective education policies. 

Over two days, representatives from MOET, local education authorities, and development partners came together to explore how data from SEA-PLM’s large-scale assessments can be translated into practical reforms that support quality education for all children in VietNam. 

Representatives from SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and Ministry of Education and Training Group Photo

The workshop commenced with a high-level dialogue at the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) office in Hanoi, where His Excellency TT Phạm Ngọc Thưởng, Deputy Minister of Education and Training, welcomed SEA-PLM representatives and partners. During the session, Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, representing the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, extended sincere appreciation to the Deputy Minister and the entire MOET team for their remarkable leadership and commitment in successfully implementing the SEA-PLM 2024 Main Survey. 

SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and the Ministry of Education and Training during during High-Level Discussions with His Excellency TT Phạm Ngọc Thưởng, Deputy Minister of Education and Training.

"Vietnam’s achievement in completing the 2024 Main Survey, along with other countries registering high participation rates in the region, reflects strong national ownership and a deep commitment to improving learning outcomes," Dr. Habibah shared. She emphasized that with at least two comparable data points now available, Vietnam is in a stronger position to contribute to global education indicators such as SDG 4.1.1b, which reports on minimum proficiency in reading and mathematics at the end of primary education.

His Excellency Deputy Minister underlined how the SEA-PLM survey’s insights provide essential tools to evaluate system-wide responses to learning recovery post-pandemic and to support informed policymaking. The dialogue also emphasized how Vietnam’s continued participation in SEA-PLM, particularly looking ahead to the upcoming third cycle in 2029, offers a long-term opportunity to track progress and strengthen educational equity and quality in the country.

Mr Alejandro Ibanez, SEA-PLM Programme Manager, facilitated the discussion with the education official from Viet Nam

The second day shifted to hands-on training aimed at translating evidence into meaningful insights. Education specialists, provincial officers, and school administrators joined the workshop to dive into the SEA-PLM findings. This is the essence of SEA-PLM’s Initiative 2, “Evidence-to-Policy Linkages,” which empowers countries to turn assessment data into meaningful actions and reforms. During the workshop the Vietnamese team had the opportunity to dissect the latest survey results,from system-level questionnaires that reveal the learning environment in schools, to sample items in reading and mathematics, and preliminary 2024 student achievement results reading and math. 

Group discussion during workshop

Working in groups, the educators discussed questions like: How can we support students who fell behind? And what policies can help teachers in rural areas improve foundational skills? The workshop atmosphere was one of problem-solving and encouragement. SEA-PLM facilitators shared regional “smart buys” – proven strategies to boost basic skills – and the Vietnamese team considered how to adapt these to the local context. By midday, the groups had sketched out concrete next steps. They proposed actions ranging from updating teacher training curricula with lessons learned to strengthening tutoring programs for struggling readers, to improving data sharing so that even district-level officials can use SEA-PLM insights. This action planning was in line with the National Steering Committee’s mandate, ensuring that ideas from the workshop would feed into the overall national action plans.

This country workshop in Vietnam is part of a broader push across Southeast Asia to bridge the gap between policy and practice. The outputs and insights generated from the workshop will contribute to greater understanding of Vietnam’s education reform journey and accelerate evidence-based actions and practices. Later this year, the  SEA-PLM 2024 main regional report will be released, and Vietnam aims to support the launch with country-level actions and reforms.. As one SEA-PLM representative put it, the goal is to turn data into action and commitment into impactful outcomes for all children in the region.

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SEA-PLM is supported by the UK Mission to ASEAN under the ASEAN-UK 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.

Education leaders, policymakers, and partners across Southeast Asia gathered in the historical city of Malacca, Malaysia, on 28-30 April 2025, for the 15th Regional Steering Committee (RSC) Meeting of the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) Programme. The three day event served as a platform for dialogue, reflection, and planning to drive the future of foundational learning in the region. 

At the heart of this year’s meeting was the recognition of significant progress made in 2024 particularly the successful completion of the SEA-PLM 2024 Main Survey, which reached almost 40,000 students in more than 1,200 schools across seven participating countries. Moreover, the meeting discussed the interim results and began shaping plans for the upcoming release and dissemination of the full SEA-PLM 2024 finding later this year. The meeting centered on post-2024 action plans focusing on data analysis, dissemination, and utilization of evidence in line with the objectives of the latest programme strategy, Initiative 2: Evidence-to-Policy linkages.

The meeting brought together core member countries, honorary members, and key regional partners. Among the distinguished participants were Ms Isla Gilmore from the UK Mission to ASEAN under theForeign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO), Ms Amalia Serrano and Mr Muhammad Dika from the ASEAN Secretariat, and Ms Bo-Ram Jang from the ASEAN-Korea Cooperation Fund (AKCF).  This year’s meeting was further enriched by the presence of Her Excellency Fadhlina Sidek, Malaysia’s Minister of Education, who reaffirmed Malaysia’s dedication to foundational learning. 

Her Excellency Fadhlina Sidek, Minister of Education Malaysia, joined the Regional Steering Committee Meeting in Malacca

The presence of both long standing and newly engaged partners - such as the AKCF and UK’s FCDO - demonstrated growing international commitment to SEA-PLM’s mission. AKCF was formally recognized during the meetings for its continued support in advancing the programme’s regional impact and sustainability. While the UK government was officially welcomed as a new regional partner supported under the ASEAN-UK SAGE programme. These relationships were strengthened through a ceremonial welcome and strategic bilateral meetings throughout the event. 

Another highlight of the RSC meeting was school visits to Sekolah Kebangsaan Paya Rumput and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (C) Wen Hua where participants engaged directly with Malaysian students and teachers. The participants observed classroom activities, engaged in an open dialogue with educators and learners. 

 Participants visited Sekolah Kebangsaan Paya Rumput and Sekolah Jenis Kebangsaan (c) Wen Hua to observe classroom practices and engage in meaningful dialogue with teachers and students

As the meeting concluded, a clear message emerged: foundational learning must remain a top regional priority. DatukDr Datuk Habibah, SEAMEO Secretariat Director, praised the collective achievements and called on all stakeholders to maintain momentum as the program transitions into its next phase. This includes the upcoming release of the 2024 regional report in November and the strategic preparations for the third round of assessment, SEA-PLM 2029.

Looking ahead, the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat sets to convene the 16th RSC Meeting in 2026, hosted in collaboration with the Ministry of Education and Training of Viet Nam. 

The SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat and the Lao PDR National team hosted the 1st SEA-PLM country-level strategic workshop under Initiative 2: Evidence-to-policy linkages on March 18 - 20, 2025 effectively advancing the use of evidence to inform policies and practices in basic education. This workshop signified an essential step forward in the country’s commitment to improving foundational learning outcomes. One of the workshop’s notable moments was the high-level dialogue between SEA-PLM representatives and Dr. Dalavone Kitiphanh, Vice Minister of Education and Sports. The meaningful dialogue centered around Lao PDRs’ dedication to leveraging assessment data for informed policy decisions to enhance educational quality and the use of SEA-PLM through Initiative 2 in contributing to this commitment.

Group photo of SEA-PLM representatives, partners, and Ministry Officials led by Dr. Dalavone Kitiphanh, Vice Minister of Education and Sports Lao PDR

Mrs. Manoly Dongvan, Deputy Director General, Research Institute of Educational Sciences, Ministry of Education and Sport, in her opening remarks, expressed Lao PDR’s steadfast commitment to foundational learning. By participating in the SEA-PLM assessments conducted in 2019 and 2024, Lao PDR demonstrates its dedication to evaluating and improving educational outcomes. Through its active involvement in SEA-PLM, Lao PDR reaffirms its commitment to foundational learning and emphasizes the importance of sustained investment in children’s education, ensuring quality education for future generations. During the session, the SEAMEO Secretariat represented by Datuk Dr Habibah expressed gratitude for Lao’s successful completion of the SEA-PLM 2024 Main Survey, emphasizing the critical role of the 2024 data in assessing learning recovery post Covid-19 and developing targeted interventions.

Throughout the first day, participants from various units within the Ministry and other partners actively engaged in a robust discussion on strengthening reforms through leveraging data insights and evidence from SEA-PLM and other sources. This boosted  the country’s national action plan to focus on post-2024 activities of data analysis, dissemination, and formulation of effective interventions informed by the upcoming results of the 2024 survey.

Mr Alejandro Ibanez, Programme Manager SEA-PLM Programme. facilitated the discussion with the participants during the workshop

On the second day, Dr. Wong Yew Leong from the National Institute of Education, Nanyang Technological University, guided participants through an interactive session focused on the completion of Module 2 of the SEA-PLM System-Level Questionnaire, centered on curriculum and quality assurance in primary education. This insightful session unpacked complex themes such as teacher training, differentiated curriculum strategies, and effective resource allocation, highlighting how teacher motivation, cultural contexts, and school leadership profoundly influence learning outcomes. Participants enthusiastically exchange insights and perspectives, exploring comprehensive strategies to align curriculum standards with quality assurance practices. 

Dr Wong facilitated the discussion on module 2 of the SEA-PLM System-Level Questionnaire

The workshop concluded with a productive bilateral meeting between Lao PDR’s national team and the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat, mapping out clear, actionable plans for sustained collaboration and policy action. 

This workshop not only strengthened Lao PDR’s capacity to harness SEA-PLM data effectively but also to amplify ongoing regional efforts to ensure that every child attains foundational skills essential for lifelong learning and development.

The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) Regional Secretariat convened the 1st country-level strategic workshop in the Philippines from March 3-4, 2025. This event explored how data-driven insights can inform and strengthen national education policies in the Philippines. 

SEA-PLM courtesy visit to Secretary Sonny Angara at the Department of Education.

The workshop opened with a courtesy visit to the Office of the Secretary of Education, His Excellency  Sonny Angara, who underscored the Philippines government’s commitment to using data to drive education reforms. The visit set the stage for discussions on how SEA-PLM data can support to generate insights, improve foundational learning, and educational policy priorities.

The Philippines is participating in the second round of assessment SEA-PLM 2024, places the country in a stronger position to report on its achievement of the UN SDG 4.1.1b indicator. With its intensified education reforms, post-2024 collaboration proves critical to ensure that the evidence translates into meaningful actions to sustain the reform and policy improvements.

SEA-PLM Project Manager Mr Alejandro Ibanez explained the objective of SEA-PLM Country Level Workshop in the Philippines.

At the workshop, the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat highlighted a key shift in the programme’s direction—moving beyond data collection to actively integrating assessment insights into policy reform. Known as Initiative 2: Evidence-to-Policy Linkages, this approach ensures that SEA-PLM findings directly inform national education strategies, strengthening learning outcomes in the Philippines and across Southeast Asia.

The Philippines’ continued participation in SEA-PLM underscores its commitment to leveraging international assessments for policymaking. With the country set to assume the ASEAN Chairmanship in 2026, it has a unique opportunity to drive regional education reform discussions centered on the use of data to advance evidence-informed policymaking.

Under Initiative 2, SEA-PLM supports DepEd’s push for data-driven decision-making, aligning with its focus on transparency and feedback loops. This includes refining curriculum development and teacher training using SEA-PLM insights, addressing learning gaps through targeted interventions, and embedding an equity focus to support marginalized students.

Key takeaways from the two-day workshop will feed into major regional education dialogues, including the 15th SEA-PLM Regional Steering Committee Meeting (April 2025) and the Foundational Learning Forum (May 2025). These events will shape how SEA-PLM data is utilized—not just in the Philippines, but across Southeast Asia—to drive meaningful education reforms forward.

Datuk Dr Habibah and also Secretary Sonny Angara at the Department of Education.

In November 2025, the official SEA-PLM 2024 Report will be launched, with participating countries presenting their policy responses based on the findings. For the Philippines, this will be a defining moment to showcase how data has driven meaningful reforms in foundational learning.

The SEA-PLM Country Workshop in the Philippines, along with similar workshops happening in other countries, marks a milestone in the journey towards evidence-based education reforms in the region.

Timor Leste has unlocked a new opportunity to gain valuable insights into foundational learning across the country by joining the SEA PLM 2024 assessment cycle. With the upcoming release of results, SEAMEO Secretariat and UNICEF EAPRO with support of the ASEAN-UK Supporting the Advancement of Girls Education (SAGE) Programme, engaged the education stakeholders including Her Excellence Ms. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education of Timor-Leste,   in a strategic workshop in Dili on 24-25 February 2025.

The SEA-PLM initiative 2 is a forward-looking framework designed to ensure that learning assessment data is not only collected but also effectively used to drive systemic improvements. The initiative promotes country-specific insights tailored to Timor-Leste’s education landscape and enhances institutional capacity to use data for decision-making and policy formulation. It facilitates system and school-level collaboration to address foundational learning challenges while also developing monitoring mechanisms to track progress and ensure accountability in implementing reforms. Under this framework, Timor-Leste aims to establish national mechanisms to support the sustained implementation of SEA-PLM and strengthen its education policies based on real-world evidence.

The Strategic workshop initiated the action of evidence-to-policy linkages building upon data gathered from the systematic monitoring of student learning among Grade 5 students in basic literacy and numeracy. This initiative aims to accelerate evidence-based reforms and action in the country’s education system, focused on foundational learning. This initiative, leveraging on survey data, ensures that the results translate into meaningful policies that drive real improvements in the learning experience of children across Timor-Leste. 

Sharing session with SEA-PLM Country Workshop participants in Timor-Leste

The discussion articulated the need to develop and formulate a national action plan to effectively utilize SEA-PLM data to shape national education strategies and align future SEA-PLM support and interventions with national education priorities. Additionally, the SEA-PLM Regional Secretariat engaged the Ministry of Education in in-depth technical discussions on the SEA-PLM compendium of items in reading and math, preliminary national outcomes of the 2024 main survey, and discussions on the system-level questionnaires.

SEA-PLM Secretariat, UNICEF and SEA-PLM National Team in Timor-Leste gave opening and objective of SEA-PLM country level workshop

The workshop concluded with a clear roadmap for Timor-Leste’s education stakeholders. The Ministry of Education committed to  explore the establishment of a national steering committee and develop national action plans to inform ways forward on the sustained implementation of SEA-PLM and advancement of foundational learning. It will expand capacity-building programs for educators and policymakers to better analyze and utilize data, engage in continued dialogue with regional partners to strengthen technical and institutional collaboration, and monitor progress to ensure that the reforms yield tangible improvements in student learning outcomes. The success of this initiative will be measured not just by the data collected but by the policies enacted and the lives transformed through a more inclusive and effective education system.

The Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) continues to make a significant impact, with its data and insights increasingly recognized by the Ministry of Education in the Philippines. The latest findings from SEA-PLM have been acknowledged as a crucial resource for shaping education policies, providing regionally comparable benchmarks that help guide national interventions. In the Philippines, the program's evidence-based approach has been instrumental in sporting ongoing reform aimed at addressing learning gaps and improving foundational learning outcomes.

The EDCOM II report highlights pressing challenges in the Philippines' education system, particularly in the early grades. Learning gaps have persisted, with many Grade 3 students performing one to two years behind curriculum expectations. SEA-PLM 2019 policy recommendations emphasize the need to guarantee a solid start in primary education through learning progression for all children, especially the disadvantaged.  Data further reveal that poor early childhood care and nutrition are key factors affecting student performance, with malnutrition and stunting limiting cognitive development and learning potential. 

Unpacking the structural roots of educational challenges, The Second Congressional Commission on Education (EDCOM II) released its Year 2 report calling for realignment of educational priorities toward the foundational stages of learning.  Titled, “Fixing the Foundation: A Matter of National Survival”, the report sheds light on the policy gaps that hinder educational progress in the Philippines. Consolidating data and information on the quality of foundational learning outcomes, SEA-PLM serves as a useful resource that provides critical evidence for policymakers and educators in the country. 

SEA-PLM also reveals compelling findings on resources, showinghat many students learn in overcrowded classrooms or inadequate facilities. Equity issues were also explored where SEA-PLM 2019 revealed that the case of bullying is prevalent in the country, underscoring the need for a positive learning environment to support children’s well-being and safety in schools. 

To gain a deeper understanding of the finding and recommendations from EDCOM II, you can download the full report here 

https://edcom2.gov.ph/media/2025/01/EDCOM-2-Year-2-Report-Fixing-the-Foundations-2025.pdf

SEA-PLM stands ready to work with the Philippines Department of Education to improve foundational learning outcomes and enhance the basic education quality and equity for all children in the Philippines.