Leveraging on the spirit of cooperation and having in mind the remaining five years of the Education for All (EFA) Movement, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council supported the promotion of early childhood care and other initiatives to guarantee opportunities for quality education in the region during its 45th Annual Conference that was hosted by the Philippines at the Shangri-La's Mactan Resort and Spa, Lapu-lapu City, Cebu, the Philippines on 26-29 January 2010.

The highlight of the meeting was a forum that dealt with the issue of early childhood care and education (ECCE), or educating children even before they step into school. Dubbed as "Understanding the Vital Years for Future Learning" the forum paved the way for discussion and sharing of experiences on early childhood and pre-primary school learning. The Southeast Asian Education Ministers acknowledged the importance of ECCE, particularly in promoting quality education for all. As the proponent of the discussion, the Philippines volunteered to lead a regional cooperation project on policy research on ECCE and committed an initial funding of US$ 50,000.

In the keynote address of H E President of the Republic of the Philippines Gloria Macapagal Arroyo delivered by the country's Executive Secretary Honourable Eduardo R Ermita during the Opening Ceremony, the Philippine President commended the models of people-to-people cooperation exemplified in SEAMEO. The country's leader challenged the leadership and membership of SEAMEO to position the organization as being part of the solution in attaining the Education for All and Millennium Development Goals.

At the start of the Conference, Thailand Education Minister H E Mr Chinnaworn Boonyakiat turned over the SEAMEO leadership to H E Datu Dr Jesli A Lapus, Secretary of Education of the Philippines. In his inaugural speech, the new SEAMEO Council President stated that with the rest of the world and Southeast Asia moving on to new and greater challenges, SEAMEO must not only keep pace with the demand, but position itself several steps ahead in an increasingly dynamic environment.

Consistent with this vision and with the aim of providing quality education for all, the 45th SEAMEO Council Conference reviewed the progress of the 10 collaborative projects of the SEAMEO Member States that aim at providing education to the underserved communities in the region. Other initiatives discussed and endorsed were integration of climate change in the school curriculum, building capacity on maximizing the use of language in teaching, harmonization of higher education in Southeast Asia, and integration of ICT in teaching and learning.

Held at the historic province of Cebu in the Philippines, the delegates visited important landmarks and places of interest in various districts. A variety of cultural shows and social activities showcased the local traditions and way of life of the Filipinos in the central region of the country.

Participants to the 45th SEAMEO Council Conference totaled to 157 that comprised the 11 Ministers of Education of Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam; and their delegations. Also present at the conference were representatives from the SEAMEO Associate Member Countries, namely: Australia, New Zealand and Spain; the Tsukuba University of Japan, Affiliate Member; the ASEAN Secretariat; and international organizations, namely: UNESCO, UNICEF, UN HABITAT, and the British Council. Directors and senior officials from the 19 Specialist SEAMEO Regional Centres were also present at the conference.

The 45th SEAMEO Council Conference coincided with the 5th ASEAN Education Ministers Meeting.

The SEAMEO Council Conference is an annual meeting of the Education Ministers from the 11 SEAMEO Member Countries and serves as a forum for discussion of policy and regional initiatives, setting directions for programmes and projects of SEAMEO and its Units, and review of programmes and activities of the organization.

The 46th SEAMEO Council Conference will be held in February, 2011 in Brunei Darussalam.

Ministers, heads of delegations and senior education officials of SEAMEO Member Countries, Associate Member Countries, and Affiliate Member at the Opening Ceremony of the 45th SEAMEO Council Conference in Cebu, the Philippines.