Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on ECCE 10-12 September 2013, Seoul, Republic of Korea
The Asia-Pacific Regional Policy Forum on Early Childhood Care and Education took place in Seoul, Republic of Korea from 10 to 12 September 2013. Under the subtitle “Are children ready to learn? Are schools ready for children?” the Forum focused on improving young children’s ‘readiness to learn’ from both children’s and school’s perspectives, with special attention to the promotion of equity.
With almost 200 high-level representatives from 31 countries in the Asia-Pacific region participating, including 18 education ministers and vice-ministers, the forum bolstered the early childhood development community’s commitment to children, underscoring the importance of an inter-sectoral holistic approach. At the end of the Forum, participating delegations presented and discussed follow-up actions to be undertaken in their respective countries as well as mechanisms for future country-to-country cooperation.
The Forum was organized by UNESCO, UNICEF, the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood (ARNEC), the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE) and the Korea Development Institute (KDI). The Forum was supported by the Japanese Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) and the Open Society Foundations (OSF).
For further information, please contact ap-ecce-forum@unesco.org
Presentations
10 September 2013 (Day 1)
Opening Remarks
Mr. Qian Tang, Assistant Director-General for Education, UNESCO
Mr. Kunihiko Chris Hirabayashi, Representative, UNICEF Tokyo
Ms. Young Lee, President of Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE)
Mr Joon-Kyung Kim, President of Korea Development Institute (KDI)
11 September 2013 (Day 2)
Theme 1: Invest in ECCE as a cost-effective approach for human and economic development
Presentation of examples from the region:
Mr Gantulga Bold, Division Head of Pre-School Education, Ministry of Education & Science, Mongolia
H.E. Mr Madhav Prasad Poudel, Minister of Education, Nepal
Prof Betty Ip, Deputy Secretary of Education, Hong Kong SAR
Ministerial Roundtable:
Theme 2: Expand quality ECCE with equity
Presentation of examples from the region
Sub-theme 2.1: Integration of care and education
Dr Teresita G. Inciong, Chairperson of ECCE and ECCD, Governing Board of the Philippines
H.E. Bandula C. Gunawardhana, Minister of Education, Sri Lanka
Prof. Kyoko Iwatate, Tokyo Gakugei University, Tokyo, Japan
Sub-theme 2.2: Competences of ECCE teachers and caregivers
Presentation of examples from the region
Mr Karl Le Quesne, Group Manager, Early Childhood Education, Ministry of Education, New Zealand
Mr. Kinley Gyeltshen, Chief of ECCD Division, Ministry of Education, Bhutan
H.E. Abdugani Kholbekov, Vice-Minister of Public Education, Uzbekistan
Presentation of examples from the region
Sub-theme 2.3: Setting standards and monitoring development and learning otucomes
H.E. Mr Chanturon Chaisang, Minister of Education, Thailand
Ms Jocelyn Mete, First Political Adviser, Department of Education, Vanuatu
H.E. Ms Krishna Tirath, Minister of Women and Child Development, India
12 September 2013 (Day 3)
Theme 3: Ensure successful transition to school
Presentation of examples from the region
H.E. Ms Nguyen Thi Nghia, Vice-Minister of Education & Training, Viet Nam
H.E. Mr Md. Afsarul Ameen, Minister, Ministry of Primary & Mass Education, Bangladesh
Closing Remarks
Mr. Gwang-Jo Kim, Director, in UNESCO Asia and Pacific, Regional Bureau for Education
Mr Isiye Ndombi, Deputy Regional Director, UNICEF, Regional Office for East Asia and Pacific
Ms. Venita Kaul, ARNEC Executive Committee member
Ms Young Lee, President of Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE)