Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte underscored the need to share best education practices among Southeast Asian nations, being the new president of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO).

In a statement on Friday, the DepEd cited how Duterte urged regional education leaders to share strategies that will help address the existing learning gaps considering the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) pandemic.

“As VP-Secretary Sara assumed her post as the head of the Council, she called for the efforts of the members to make impactful changes for their learners,” the DepEd said in a statement.

“She promoted the regional operation mechanism that will enable the ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries to work together by sharing and championing their best practices in their respective education systems,” it added.

Duterte then expressed her gratitude as she accepted the two-year role, raising her hopes for discourse exchanges among regional leaders.

“We will take advantage of our diversity and varied experiences to rethink our current practices to innovate and make policies, plans and frameworks that will further strengthen our existing education systems,” she said.

“I look forward to productive discussions with you throughout this presidency as we work towards our shared education goals in harmony and solidarity,” she added.

Duterte also highlighted the actions of the previous leadership under Singapore’s education minister Chan Chung Sing during the peak of the pandemic challenges.

Meanwhile, Duterte is set to perform her duties as SEAMEO chairperson until 2025.

Among her target agendas are the implementation of education reforms, as well as their feasibility alongside the sector’s priority, and the 2021-2030 strategic plan of SEAMEO. (PNA)

Photo credit: Facebook/DepartmentOfEducation.PH