History & Milestones
Six decades of transforming communities through education across Southeast Asia.
Key Milestones
SEAMEO Established
The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) is a chartered regional intergovernmental organization established in Bangkok, Thailand, on 30 November 1965. It was founded to promote cooperation among Southeast Asian countries in education, science, and culture, with the shared goal of advancing justice, the rule of law, fundamental freedoms, and sustainable regional development through education.
SEAMEO Council Conference in Vietnam
In 2013 at the 47th SEAMEO Council Conference (SEAMEC) at Hanoi, Vietnam, the Lao Minister of Education and Sports (MOES) had adopted and committed to establish one SEAMEO Centre in Lao PDR. Since then, the MOES has been working with the SEAMEO Secretariat for guidelines on the process of establishment of new SEAMEO Centre. The consultation conference was held in December 2013 in Lao PDR and agreements have been reached, MOES would set up a SEAMEO Regional Centre either on Community Education Development (SEAMEO CED) or on Inclusive Education (SEAMEO IEC).
SEAMEO Regional Centre for Community Education Development
In 2014, the MOES has opted for the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Community Education Development (SEAMEO CED) based on the needs of the SEAMEO member countries. The committee for preparation of new SEAMEO Centre was appointed within the MOES. This committee worked closely with SEAMEO Centres previously established. In 2014-2015 the committee visited SEAMEO RETRAC and SEAMEO CELL in Vietnam and SEAMEO CHAT in Myanmar to learn from their experiences on establishment and management of SEAMEO Centres; SEAMEO SEMOLEC in Indonesia sent its technical staff to support the preparation of new SEAMEO Centre in Lao PDR.
SEAMEO Council Conference in Thailand
In 2015, at the 48th SEAMEO Council Conference in Thailand, Vice-Minister of MOES, Lao PDR informed the conference that MOES would conduct a feasibility study for establishing a new SEAMEO Centre in Lao PDR.
SEAMEO CED officially established in LAO PDR
the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Community Education Development (SEAMEO CED) was officially established in the Lao People's Democratic Republic on 30 July 2018. Recognized by the Government of Lao PDR as a subordinate body of SEAMEO, the Centre derives its legal status from the SEAMEO Charter, enabling it to undertake regional cooperation, partnerships, research, and capacity-building initiatives.