Indonesia Hosts 49th SEAMEO Conference

JAKARTA, July 25 (Antara) - Indonesia is hosting the 49th Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Conference in Jakarta on July 24-27, 2017. The forum is expected to help Indonesia achieve quality education, Indonesian Minister of Education and Culture Muhadjir Effendy noted. "The SEAMEO program is strongly related to our government program, particularly in achieving the target number 4 in SDGs, which is quality education. We hope SEAMEO can be a development partner for Indonesia," he stated here on Tuesday. The main agenda to be discussed during the forum is the progress in the implementation of SEAMEO's seven education priorities during the 2015-2035 period, including achieving universal investigation for early childhood, overcoming inclusive education barriers, resilience in the face of emergencies, as well as promoting vocational education and training. Participants from the 10 member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations as well as Timor Leste will also discuss the revitalization of teacher education, harmonization of higher education and training, as well as adoption of a 21st century curriculum. During the event, Minister Effendy is also appointed as the president of SEAMEO Council based on a rotation system to replace Thai Education Minister Teerakiat Jareonsettasin. Under the lead of Indonesia's presidency, the SEAMEO Council is expected to make achievements that will be beneficial for the development of education in Southeast Asia. "We hope Indonesia would be able to develop education in the region through various excellent education programs while also providing opportunities for the enhancement of education cooperation for Indonesia," the Thai minister remarked. According to Minister Jareonsettasin, education plays an important role in creating unity in a quite unique region, such as Southeast Asia, as it comprises diverse countries.