During the Asia Pacific Meeting on Education (APMED6) held from September 10-13, 2024, a sub-regional dialogue was convened to address strategies for implementing existing commitments and priority actions across various regions. The session, moderated by Professor Kazuhiro Yoshida of Hiroshima University, brought together key representatives to discuss achievements, potential, and challenges within East Asia, Southeast Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia, and South Asia.

Notable attendees included Dr. Kamaleswaran Jayarajahfrom the SEAMEO Secretariat for Southeast Asia, Ms. IroshaCooray from SAARC Secretariat for South Asia, Mr. TawaqaJoe Naisoro from SPC for the Pacific Region, Ms. MadinaTynybayeva from the National Academy of Education, Kazakhstan, representing Central Asia online, and ZHAO Yuchi from UNESCO for East Asia.

The Director of the SAARC Secretariat emphasized the immense potential of South Asia, which is home to nearly 350 million adolescents—the highest number of any region globally. With almost half of its population under the age of 24, and led by India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, South Asia is poised to have the world's largest youth labor force until 2040. This demographic advantage presents a unique opportunity for the region to drive dynamic and productive economies. The Director also addressed both conventional and emerging challenges faced by the region, highlighting ongoing gaps and lapses in achieving educational equity and ensuring access to quality education at all levels. The focus remains on overcoming these barriers to fully leverage the potential of South Asia's youthful population.

Key outcomes include the development of sub-regional recommendations and a strategic way forward. These recommendations will be reflected in the Outcome Document of APMED6 and will contribute valuable regional inputs to the upcoming Global Education Meeting (GEM) in Brazil.

SAARC Secretariat

Kathmandu, Nepal

15 September 2024

The Third Technical Meeting of SAARC Senior Officials of Education was held on September 12, 2024, in Bangkok, Thailand, on the sidelines of the Asia Pacific Meeting on Education (APMED6). This important event marked eight years since the launch of the SAARC Framework for Action for Education 2030 and was organized by the SAARC Secretariat with technical and logistical support from the UNESCO Regional Office in New Delhi and the UNICEF Regional Office in Kathmandu.

The Meeting was attended by representatives from seven SAARC member states of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, alongside the Regional Director of UNESCO and the Representative of UNICEF. The session was chaired by Minister of State for Higher Education Mr. Ahmed Shafeeu from the esteemed Government of Maldives, with Ms. Irosha Cooray, Director at the SAARC Secretariat, formally opening the meeting in accordance with SAARC protocol.

The gathering served as a vital forum for reviewing and assessing the progress of the SAARC Framework for Action for Education 2030. The discussions highlighted both advancements and challenges within the region, establishing some recommendations for future actions aimed at improving educational outcomes across South Asia.

Key outcomes and recommendations from the meeting included a strategic focus on integrating climate change adaptation into the SAARC agenda and advocating for increased funding and resources to strengthen SAARC's role as a South-South Cooperation Platform. The meeting emphasized leveraging SAARC as a knowledge management forum to share best practices in teacher professional development, learning assessment, and SDG 4 data. Additionally, a regional program/framework was proposed to tackle the learning crisis by enhancing learning assessment capabilities. The meeting also highlighted the need to improve educational access for children, especially girls, and to promote STEM education and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). Other recommendations included assessing and improving teacher competencies and fostering public-private partnerships to advance education access and outcomes.

SAARC Secretariat

Kathmandu, Nepal

15 September 2024

H.E. the Secretary General Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar called on Hon Minister for Foreign Affairs of Nepal Dr. Arzu Rana Deuba at the Foreign Ministry today and congratulated her on the assumption of important responsibility as the Foreign Minister and the Chair of the SAARC Council of Ministers.
The two dignitaries discussed ongoing initiatives in SAARC, forward movement, and upcoming meetings.

H.E. the Secretary General Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar departed from Male’ after concluding his Introductory Visit to Maldives.

During the Visit, the Secretary General paid a courtesy call on the President of the Republic of Maldives, H.E. Dr. Mohamed Muizzu and expressed gratitude for receiving him on his Introductory Visit. Secretary-General once again praised the President on his inspiring inaugural address of November last year. President Muizzu and Secretary General discussed the importance of collaboration and engagement among the SAARC member states.

Secretary General also called on the Minister of Foreign Affairs H.E. Mr. Moosa Zameer and had a meeting with Foreign Secretary H.E. Ms. Fathimath Inaya. During the call, Foreign Minister Zameer assured Maldives' support in strengthening relations among the SAARC member states. Foreign Secretary of Maldives and the Secretary General of SAARC discussed the ongoing activities of SAARC and its future plans to strengthen the regional process for the benefit of the people of South Asia.

During his visit, the Secretary General also gave a talk at the Foreign Service Institute and highlighted the importance of regional cooperation, and discussed the way forward for SAARC with Maldivian Diplomats of all levels.

Additionally, the SAARC Secretary General called on the former President of the Republic of the Maldives H.E. Mr. Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, who was one of the signatories of SAARC Charter in 1985. Secretary General highlighted the role President Maumoon played during the inception of SAARC, and they discussed the ongoing work of SAARC Secretariat and ways to invigorate SAARC.

Secretary General Sarwar was seen off at the Velana International Airport by Ambassador Mohamed Faisal, Additional Secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Male’, 08 August 2024