Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
The UNESCO Regional Office in Bangkok and Thailand’s Equitable Education Fund (EEF) have signed a two-year partnership titled 'Equitable Education in ASEAN+: Stronger Regional Partnership for Practice-Based Knowledge and Policy Advancement.' This partnership aims to foster regional cooperation and promote equitable education in ASEAN Member States and partner countries. The agreement focuses on supporting knowledge exchange, policy development, and innovative financing to enhance inclusive and flexible learning opportunities, particularly for out-of-school children and youth.
Soohyun Kim, Regional Director of UNESCO Bangkok, stated that the partnership reflects a shared commitment to ensuring quality and equitable education access for all learners, especially vulnerable and marginalized groups. The initiative addresses barriers such as poverty, displacement, and inequality that prevent millions in Asia and the Pacific from accessing education. Strengthening regional collaboration and innovative financing is intended to help countries build resilient, inclusive education systems.
Dr. Kraiyos Patrawart, Managing Director of EEF Thailand, highlighted the importance of collective action and cited Thailand’s Thailand Zero Dropout Plus policy, which offers flexible learning pathways and sustained investment for vulnerable learners. Through this collaboration, EEF aims to enhance regional learning and contribute practical knowledge and policy innovations to benefit children and youth throughout ASEAN+.
The partnership will advance flexible and inclusive learning systems targeting out-of-school children and youth (OOSCY) and promote innovative financing to improve education access. Key activities include the 4th International Conference on Equitable Education in Bangkok and the ASEAN+4 Regional Conference on Learning Cities in Ho Chi Minh City, both scheduled for 2026, as well as the development of an ASEAN+ Toolkit focused on flexible and inclusive learning.