JAKARTA, 26 July 2023 – ASEAN Education Ministers and Senior Officials gathered at the Southeast Asia Policy Dialogue on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) on 25 – 26 July in Jakarta.
In the dialogue, ASEAN Education Ministers and representatives joined the ASEAN Ministers Roundtable discussion to deliberate on the draft ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education in Southeast Asia. The roundtable highlighted and endorsed ECCE’s crucial role in shaping the foundation of a child’s future development and success.
Minister Nadiem Anwar Makarim of Indonesia’s Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (MOECRT) mentioned that the region needs to reaffirm every child’s rights to quality learning from the day they were born, regardless of their social and economic background. Recognising its paramount importance, ASEAN education ministers have taken a step forward to advance and reinforce the region’s commitment to provide quality early childhood care and education for all by endorsing the ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education in Southeast Asia.
Over 500 participants from ministries, academia, private sector, and international organisations from ASEAN and beyond attended the dialogue. Participants engaged in extensive discussions, shared best practices and innovative approaches, as well as challenges and lessons learned from their respective countries in delivering holistic ECCE services. The conference also kicked off the Scoping Study on ECCE in Southeast Asia to promote and strengthen evidence-based ECCE policy-making in the region.
Under Indonesia’s leadership as this year’s ASEAN Chair, the event was held under the theme “Transforming Early Childhood Care and Education in Southeast Asia” and also featured the 3rd International Conference on ECCE and Parenting.
MOERCT hosted the Policy Dialogue in collaboration with SEAMEO Regional Centre for Early Childhood Care Education and Parenting, Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood, UNESCO, UNICEF, Tanoto Foundation, and ASEAN Secretariat.
The ASEAN Leaders’ Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education in Southeast Asia will be submitted to the 43rd ASEAN Summit in September to be adopted by the ASEAN Leaders.
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