The Strategic Dialogue of Education Ministers (SDEM) was established as a result of a Ministerial Roundtable to focus on the region’s emerging education agenda for the post-2015 scenario. The Education Ministers directed specific actions to be undertaken within the framework of the SEAMEO.
The Strategic Dialogue of Education Ministers (SDEM) is a biennial forum envisaged to set a more dynamic policy development process through ministerial and high profile strategic dialogue. The dialogue is designed to serve as a meeting point for practice and policy, reflection and sharing among the Education Ministers. The dialogue works best in a less structured, with less formality in discussion, however, it is fully filled with a shared desire to explore the achievement and practices in the region, policies that worked and how they work best, and the lesson learned as well as shared challenge.
SDEM aims to 1. collectively reflect on current education, science and culture issues in Southeast Asia and beyond; 2. review current and emerging education concerns as well as options for collaborative undertakings; and 3. provide a starting point for regional and cross-country collaborative interventions to address shared or unique education development concerns.
The first SDEM was held on 13 September 2014 in Lao PDR, in which the forum agreed to hold the second SDEM in Bandung on 27-28 April 2016, in cooperation with SEAMEO Secreatriat, SEAMEO Regional Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH) and Asian Development Bank (ADB) Japan Fund for Poverty Reduction.
The theme of the 2nd SDEM is “Strategy 2035: Innovating, Leading Learning and Moving Forward Together”.
The 2nd SDEM is officiated by the Minister of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia, HE Anies Baswedan, the Minister of Education of Thailand who is concurrently the President of the SEAMEO Council, HE General Dapong Ratanasuwan and the Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat, Dr Gatot Hari Priowirjanto.
The 2nd SDEM consisted of four sessions of Roundtable Discussion, i.e. 1. SEAMEO Education Agenda and Sustainable Development; 2. Innovations on Learning Delivery and Content; 3. Key Education Players and Engaging Education Stakeholders; and 4. Seven Priority Area Agenda for 2016-2018.
