Vice President and Department of Education (DepEd) Secretary Sara Duterte on Wednesday, May 22, highlighted the country's commitment to improving Early Childhood Care and Development (ECCD) programs.
“The Philippines took on the Presidency of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Council (SEAMEC) in February 2023,” Duterte said in her speech.
She emphasized the theme of the presidency, "Transformation through Learning Exchange: Building Resilient Systems as a Region," which aims to strengthen cooperation in education, science, and culture among member countries.
To achieve this, Duterte announced the launch of SEAMEC 7-7-7, a series of seven programs designed to address the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization Council’s (SEAMEO) seven priority areas in education — one of these areas is “achieving universal early childhood care and education.”
Duterte explained that SEAMEC 7-7-7 programs function as platforms for knowledge and best practice sharing, aiming to elevate the accessibility and quality of education throughout Southeast Asia.
In the Philippines, it has its own National System for Early Childhood Care and Development established through Republic Act No. 10410 or the Early Years Act of 2013.
This system, aligned with the country's policy to promote children's rights, covers health, nutrition, early education, and social services programs for children aged zero to four years old.
“There are challenges in achieving ideal implementation of ECCD programs,” Duterte acknowledged.
However, she expressed optimism that "over the next two days, by sharing experiences and best practices, we aim to compile a compendium of ECCD best practices in Southeast Asia,” she said.
This compendium, Duterte believed, will be a valuable tool in promoting policy actions among Southeast Asian countries, as they work towards a better quality of life for all learners in the region.
The DepEd marked the start of these flagship programs with a policy dialogue titled “From Policy to Action: Global Trends and Best Practices on Early Childhood Care and Education.”
The department added the event aimed to update participants on regional experiences, trends, and best practices while strengthening cooperation and showcasing initiatives for learning and benchmarking.