Policymakers Seminar on ICT in Education for Southeast Asia

Cebu City, Philippines, from 5 to 8 September 2006

The Policy Forum is part of the World Links Regional SchoolNet Project in Southeast Asia funded by the Japan Social Development Fund through the World Bank. The objective of this forum was to provide policymakers and planners from the five World Links target countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao P.D.R., the Philippines, and Vietnam) the opportunity to share their technology in education experiences and to discuss key policy issues.   Participants were selected from the following departments or posts within the Ministries of Education in each country, in order to form an integrated team of education and ITC specialists:

Participant 1: Top Level Authority

Option A: Minister of Education

Option B: Vice Minister of Education

Option C: Director of International Relations

Participant 2: ICT in Education Department

Option A: Director of ICT in Education National Initiative

Option B: Director of Computers in Education Program

Option C: Director of Technical Education

Participant 3: Teacher Training

Option A: Vice Minister or Director of Teacher Education

Option B: Director of Pre-Service Education

Session topics included access and equity, infrastructure, professional development, language and culture, curriculum and content development, financing, and monitoring & evaluation. Participants benefited from the experience of international experts, in addition to sharing and learning about each other’s efforts.  The event was organized in conjunction with the 2^nd National ICTs in Basic Education Congress of the Philippines.