The Department of Education (DepEd) underscored the need for a “forward-looking” education that would respond to the changes and challenges such as those being experienced by many countries in the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic at the 15th Senior Officials’ Meeting on Education (SOM-ED) attended by education ministers from Southeast Asia, including the Philippines.

“We are aiming for a forward-looking education that is responsive to the demands of a fast-changing world,” said Education Secretary Leonor Briones. “We need to re-direct and re-structure our plans for education to be able to cope with these challenges,” Briones added.

“In this meeting, we put in perspective not only what we are facing now but what we will do in order to be better and stronger after COVID-19,” Briones said.

With the theme, “Transforming Education the ASEAN Way: Forging partnerships in the age of global disruptions,” each ASEAN member-state shared their experiences in promoting learning continuity during the present pandemic.

During the meeting, ASEAN education senior officials also reported the progress on the learning continuity plan being implemented in their respective countries.

For the Philippines, DepEd Undersecretary for Planning Service and Field Operations Jesus L.R. Mateo gave updates on the programs it implemented under the Basic Education-Learning Continuity Plan (BE-LCP), including “DepEd Commons” as its online learning platform and the “DepEd TV.”

Mateo, chair of the meeting, said that DepEd, along with other Philippine education agencies, remains “steadfast in its commitment to regional cooperation in various fora especially in these challenging yet exciting times.”

While Southeast Asian countries are diverse, Mateo noted that they “can yield experiences, knowledge, and opportunities to learn the solutions that work best in the circumstances that enable effective implementation.”

Mateo also reiterated the Philippines support for various regional platforms “as a potent contribution to enriching the knowledge resources that would be relevant in addressing current concerns and in guiding future education reforms in the region.”

During the meeting, some countries presented their respective responses to the pandemic, including conducting physical classes by phases with safety protocols being observed.

For instance, a School Management Manual was published in Thailand to ensure safety for both learners and their teachers. Singapore, on the other hand, observes daily temperature checks in their schools as part of their health safety protocols.

With most ASEAN states implementing distance learning, education ministers encouraged each member-state to continue supporting their learners by providing quality content through the utilization of their present learning modalities such as online platforms, as well as television and radio.

Aside from learning continuity efforts, ASEAN member-states also gave recognition to the importance of the mental well-being of the learner to ensure the effective implementation of distance learning.

Malaysia shared that a whole-of-community approach creates a supportive learning environment for children.

The ASEAN education ministries also adapted their respective revised school year plan and curriculum framework for this year and highlighted the need to do research to prepare for other crises in the future.