Education Minister Susil Premajayantha led the Sri Lanka delegation to the Second Asia-Pacific Regional Education Ministers’ Conference (APREMC-II), from June 5 to 7, in Bangkok.
The conference held on hybrid modality under the theme of ‘Education Recovery and Transformation towards more Responsive, Relevant and Resilient Education Systems: Accelerating Progress towards SDG 4- Education 2030’, was attended by Education Ministers from across Asia at the Shangri-La Hotel in Bangkok.
The conference wasco-organized by the UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education (UNESCO Bangkok), UNICEF East Asia and Pacific Regional Office (EAPRO), and the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia (ROSA), and hosted by the Thai Education Ministry with the support of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Ministry of Japan.
The three-day conference was inaugurated by Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn with Education Minister Treenut Thienthong, Deputy Education Minister Khunying Kalaya Sophonpanich.
UNESCO Bangkok Office Director Shigeru Aoyagi, UNICEF Office Director Debora Comini, UNESCO Executive Committee Chairperson Tamara Rastovac Siamashvili and UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Education Stefania Giannini addressed the gathering, while UN Secretary-General Envoy on Youth Jayatma Wickramanayake made a virtual statement.
During the Ministerial roundtable discussion, Minister Susil Premajayantha stated that “Under reforms to teaching and learning, the need for curriculum reforms for teachers and students alike to equip the teachers for professional development and to empower the learners to have the skills and flexible pathways required for life and work, to be employable and to contribute to changing socio-economic needs should be given due focus and attention.”
He emphasized that to build back better post COVID-19 for adolescents and youth, education, training, and re-training systems needed to be strengthened and made more flexible for secondary level education through the establishment of multiple and flexible learning pathways and life-long learning and training opportunities for General and Technical and Vocational Education and Training including the recognition of previous learning, validation of skills, career guidance and counselling.
He further stated that “Investments should also be made into the Rising Skills of the 21st Century, since 2020, 42 percent of the core skills required for a job have changed. We therefore need to map out what our existing talent is capable of and investing into re-skills early can help take the sting out of disruption.”
At the end of the conference, the Bangkok Statement 2022 “Towards an effective learning recovery for all and transforming education in Asia-Pacific” was adopted.
Minister Premajayantha had a bilateral meeting with UNESCO Asia and Pacific Bureau for Education Director Shigeru Aoyagi and explained the prevailing financial crisis in Sri Lanka following the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges faced by the Education sector and implementing digitalization and smart classrooms.
Director Aoyagi invited the active participation of the Minister in the preparatory meeting of UNESCO in Paris on June 28.
MinisterPremajayantha also had a bilateral discussion with Executive Secretary of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific Armida Salsiah Alisjahbana, and exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in the fields of ICT, Science, Technology and Innovation and Research with the UNESCAP.
From the Sri Lanka Mission in Bangkok, Ambassador and Permanent Representative C.A. Chaminda I Colonne, and First Secretary A.W.S. Samanmali were included in the delegation and Education Ministry Director B.P. Vithanage joined the delegation virtually.
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