Arya News - Hosted by the Ministry of Education of Singapore, in its capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Education Sector for 2026-2027, in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat, the meetings were organised under the theme ‘Strengthening ASEAN through Education’.
BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Minister of Education Datin Seri Setia Dr Hajah Romaizah binti Haji Mohd Salleh reaffirmed Brunei Darussalam’s commitment to strengthening regional education cooperation and welcomed the adoption of the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026-2030 in advancing ASEAN’s shared education agenda. The minister said this in an address during the 14th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting, 8th ASEAN Plus Three Education Ministers Meeting and 8th East Asia Summit Education Ministers Meeting from July 22-23, 2026 in Singapore.
The minister reiterated Brunei Darussalam’s readiness to assume the Chairmanship of the ASEAN Education Ministers’ Meeting and the ASEAN Education Sector in 2028, underscoring the country’s commitment to working closely with ASEAN member states and partners to advance an inclusive, resilient and future-oriented education agenda for the region.
Hosted by the Ministry of Education of Singapore, in its capacity as Chair of the ASEAN Education Sector for 2026-2027, in collaboration with the ASEAN Secretariat, the meetings were organised under the theme ‘Strengthening ASEAN through Education’.
The opening ceremony brought together ministers, deputy ministers and senior officials responsible for education from all ASEAN member states, alongside representatives from ASEAN Dialogue Partners. A key milestone of the meetings was the launch of the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026-2030, which reaffirms ASEAN’s collective commitment to advancing regional education cooperation, promoting inclusive and quality education, and strengthening regional integration.
The meetings provided a strategic platform for education ministers to exchange views on national education priorities, emerging opportunities and shared challenges, while reaffirming their commitment to building resilient, inclusive and future-ready education systems in support of the ASEAN Community Vision 2045.
Prior to the ministerial-level meetings, Permanent Secretary (Core Education) at the Ministry of Education Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati binti Haji Tajuddin represented Brunei Darussalam during the 21st ASEAN Senior Officials Meeting on Education, 16th ASEAN Plus Three Senior Officials Meeting on Education and 10th East Asia Summit Senior Officials Meeting on Education from July 20-21, 2026 at the same venue.
During the senior officials-level meetings, the ASEAN Education Senior Officials deliberated on key regional education priorities and the implementation of the ASEAN Work Plan on Education 2026-2030. Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati had the opportunity to share that Brunei Darussalam will contribute to the implementation of the Work Plan through seven regional initiatives focusing on inclusive and early childhood education, lifelong learning, micro-credentials, higher education mobility, evidence-based education policy, as well as regional knowledge-sharing on greening education and artificial intelligence in education.
The delegation also engaged in discussions and toured the Singapore Centre for Character and Citizenship Education at the National Institute of Education and Yu Neng Primary School in Singapore.
Following the 14th ASEAN Education Ministers’ Meeting, Dr Shamsiah Zuraini Kanchanawati also chaired the 2026 SEAMEO Executive Committee Meeting, on July 24, 2026 at the SEAMEO Regional Language Centre, Singapore.
Convened annually, the meeting brought together senior officials of the SEAMEO Executive Committee to review the progress of SEAMEO’s key initiatives and regional projects, deliberate on strategic priorities, and consider matters relating to the work of the SEAMEO Secretariat and its centres.
The meeting endorsed several proposals and recommendations for submission to the 49th SEAMEO High Officials’ Meeting, scheduled for November 2026.