BUZZ BEAT MEDIA

Education Secretary and Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council President Sonny Angara recently concluded high-level visits to Vietnam and the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Lao PDR), reaffirming the Philippines’ commitment to shared educational progress in the region and praising ongoing reforms in Southeast Asia’s learning landscape.

In Vietnam, Secretary Angara was welcomed by his counterpart from the Ministry of Education and Training led by His Excellency Nguyen Kim Son and key executives.

“Vietnam’s strong focus on early childhood education is an investment in resilience,” Angara said, recognizing the country’s long-term commitment to building a professionalized early years workforce. “Your policies reflect a vision that many nations, including mine, aspire to emulate.”

“Inclusive education must be matched by quality education,” Angara emphasized, expressing admiration for Vietnam’s model of universal access and its inclusive strategies to reach all learners.

Vietnam’s push for a future-ready workforce—through education reforms emphasizing career-readiness, artificial intelligence (AI), and innovation—also resonated with Angara. He drew parallels to the DepEd’s Education Center for AI Research (ECAIR), calling for sustained regional efforts in making education systems responsive to emerging global demands.

While visiting the directors of the SEAMEO Centers  in Hanoi, Angara appointed Assistant Secretary for Human Resource and Organizational Development Carmela Oracion to the governing board of the SEAMEO Regional Training Center (RETRAC), and Assistant Secretary for Curriculum and Teaching Jerome Buenviaje to the governing board of the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Lifelong Learning (CELL). He cited both SEAMEO institutions for their instrumental roles in advancing literacy, adult education, and leadership training.

Meanwhile, in his visit to Lao PDR, Angara and Lao education officials, led by its education minister Phout Simmalavong, discussed mutual challenges, particularly school dropouts and improving teacher quality. The Lao Ministry of Education expressed admiration for the Philippines’ teacher education programs, noting the excellence of Filipino educators and proposing a future learning exchange on the subject.

Angara also highlighted the Department of Education’s School-Based Feeding Program (SBFP) as a key strategy to improve student retention, along with the revised K–12 curriculum which emphasizes stronger industry linkages and enhanced employability for senior high school graduates.

Angara likewise commended Laos for its resilience in pursuing educational reforms despite limited resources. During his visit to the SEAMEO Center for Community Education Development (CED) here, he acknowledged the country’s strides in alternative learning systems (ALS).

Angara also reaffirmed the value of the Southeast Asia Primary Learning Metrics (SEA-PLM) initiative as a vital tool for tracking progress, informing policies, and enhancing collaboration across the region. He called for constructive feedback on the SEA-PLM framework to ensure its continuous relevance and effectiveness.

“As we move forward, the path is clear: Southeast Asia must work together to ensure our education systems are not only inclusive and equitable, but also resilient and future-ready,” Angara said.

*All Photos from DepEd