ASEAN education ministers have endorsed the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education in Southeast Asia in an effort to advance and reinforce the region’s commitment to providing quality early childhood care and education for all.
At the Southeast Asia Policy Dialogue on Early Childhood Care and Education in Jakarta, Association of Southeast Asian Nations Education Ministers and Senior Officials discussed the draft ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education. The roundtable emphasized the essential nature of this field in laying a strong foundation for children’s future growth and achievement.
Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim of Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology has called for the region to recognize every child’s right to quality learning. In response, ASEAN education ministers have endorsed the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education in Southeast Asia in an effort to advance and reinforce the region’s commitment to providing quality early childhood care and education for all.
More than 500 representatives from regional ministries, academia, the private sector and international organizations gathered to discuss best practices and innovative approaches to delivering holistic ECCE services in Southeast Asia. The dialogue also launched a Scoping Study on ECCE in the region to promote evidence-based policymaking. Participants shared challenges and lessons learned from their respective countries.
Indonesia, this year’s chair of the ASEAN, recently held an event focusing on “Transforming Early Childhood Care and Education in Southeast Asia.” It also featured the 3rd International Conference on ECCE and Parenting.
On July 25, the Malaysian Ministry of Education was represented by Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin, Permanent Secretary of Core Education, at the Southeast Asia Policy Dialogue on Early Childhood Care and Education. The MoE then held bilateral meetings with ASEAN member states and regional organizations to discuss educational cooperation and early childhood programs.
The MOERCT, in collaboration with the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Early Childhood Care Education and Parenting, Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood, UNESCO, UNICEF, Tanoto Foundation and ASEAN Secretariat, hosted a Policy Dialogue on Early Childhood Care and Education.
The results of these deliberations are set to be included in the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education in Southeast Asia, which is slated for adoption by the ASEAN Leaders at the 43rd ASEAN Summit in September.
Recently, the Indonesian government and UNESCO held the Inclusive Lifelong Learning Conference in Bali to promote policies, strategies, and programs that prioritize education regardless of background and age.
