JAKARTA, April 9, 2026 – The Government of Indonesia, through the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education (Kemendikdasmen) in collaboration with SEAMEO CECCEP, officially launched the ASEAN-SEAMEO Joint Roadmap on Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) in Southeast Asia. The event, which took place at The Sultan Hotel and Residence, Jakarta, on Thursday (4/9/2026), marked a new milestone in strengthening the quality of early childhood education in the region.
This launch was a concrete follow-up to the ASEAN Leaders' Declaration on Early Childhood Care and Education transformation led by Indonesia in 2023, as well as the result of an agreement among 11 ASEAN and SEAMEO member states in 2025.
The Minister of Primary and Secondary Education of the Republic of Indonesia, H.E. Abdul Mu’ti, opened the event with a warm atmosphere, reciting two pantuns (traditional poems) that emphasized the importance of regional collaboration. In his remarks, Minister Abdul Mu’ti expressed his deep appreciation to all member states and regional partners such as the ASEAN Secretariat, SEAMEO, and UNESCO Jakarta. He asserted that this Roadmap was a strategic instrument to translate political aspirations into measurable real actions. "This roadmap was not merely a document, but a call for collective action. It was our commitment to move beyond policies toward tangible, inclusive, and sustainable results for all children," said Minister Abdul Mu’ti.
The Joint Roadmap, initiated by the Indonesian Government, established seven key areas that served as the focus of intervention for the 2026–2030 period. These seven priority areas included:
1. Expanding Access: Ensuring equality in ECCE services for all children.
2. Quality Improvement: Strengthening learning programs and children's learning experiences.
3. Teacher Empowerment: Enhancing the competence and welfare of ECCE educators.
4. Governance & Partnership: Strengthening cross-sector and governmental collaboration.
5. Parental Empowerment: Supporting the role of caregivers in child development.
6. Digital Innovation: Utilizing technology responsibly for ECCE.
7. Resource Mobilization: Ensuring sustainable funding for ECCE initiatives.
the Director General of Early Childhood, Primary, and Secondary Education, Gogot Suharwoto, explained that the approach used emphasized cross-sectoral integration covering education, health, nutrition, and child protection. “This document was designed as a technical reference that could be contextualized at the national level of each country while remaining aligned with regional priorities,” Gogot explained.
The event was attended by high-ranking education officials from home and abroad, including:
• H.E. San Lwin (ASEAN Deputy Secretary-General for the Socio-Cultural Community).
• Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim (Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat).
• Maki Katsuno Hayashikawa (Director of UNESCO Jakarta).
• Members of the SEAMEO CECCEP Governing Board from Cambodia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, and Timor Leste.
Also present were Deputy Minister Atip Latipulhayat, Secretary General Mrs. Suharti, and the Directors General and Heads of Agencies within Kemendikdasmen.
Director General Gogot Suharwoto further stated that the ASEAN-SEAMEO Joint Roadmap on ECCE was designed to address the challenges of access and quality gaps in Southeast Asia. He highlighted four main principles that formed the soul of the document:
• Play-based & Child-centered: A play-based approach responsive to the child’s real-life situation.
• Culturally Responsive: Sensitive to the diverse local contexts in Southeast Asia.
• Sustainable & Resilient: Adaptive to global changes, including climate change challenges.
• Rights-based: Upholding children's rights and the principle of non-discrimination.
Meanwhile, the Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat, Datuk Dr. Habibah Abdul Rahim, emphasized that ECCE was not just an optional investment, but the main foundation for building a quality and equitable education system. She conveyed that access to quality ECCE services was crucial for improving learning outcomes, reducing gaps, and strengthening the quality of human resources in the long term. “If we were serious about improving learning outcomes, then we had to invest in the early years,” she said.
According to her, the heart of this Joint Roadmap was the children. They deserved a strong start in life, equal opportunities, and support to reach their best potential. The success of this Roadmap's implementation would not only improve the quality of education but also shape the future of Southeast Asia.
The Roadmap was the result of collective work between Kemendikdasmen, the ASEAN and SEAMEO Secretariats, SEAMEO CECCEP, and development partners such as the Tanoto Foundation, UNESCO, ARNEC, UNICEF EAPRO, UNICEF Jakarta, the Holistic Integrative ECCE Coalition, and other parties. With the launch of this Joint Roadmap, Southeast Asian countries now had the same strategic direction in developing early childhood education services until 2030.
This grand vision was then sharpened through a series of parallel sessions featuring experts:
1. Inclusive and High-Quality ECCE: This discussion emphasized the importance of reaching children in disadvantaged areas. Panelists discussed strategies to ensure ECCE services were capable of providing holistic development.
2. Strengthening the Ecosystem through Partnerships: This session highlighted that ECCE could not stand alone. The focus was on effective governance and multi-stakeholder collaboration.
3. Future Challenges and Opportunities: The final visionary session explored how digital technology, climate change, and social dynamics would shape the face of ECCE in the future.
Through this launch, Indonesia reaffirmed its position as a leader in educational transformation in the region. Investment in early childhood was viewed as a fundamental foundation for building an inclusive, resilient, and prosperous Southeast Asian society in the future.
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