RECSAM 50th Anniversary Coffee Table Book

2 The Establishment of SEAMEO A historical meeting among six Southeast Asian Ministers of Education in November 1965 sealed the future of these nations towards achieving common purposes in education. It paved a path for a progressive journey in promoting contemporary ideas and ful fi lling the vision for an enlightened society. High of fi cials from these ministries worked in unison to bring about a change in the future of holistic education in all of Southeast Asia. The focus was to foster regional cooperation in education, science and culture. The Ministers then had the conviction that developments in these areas of education were critical in enhancing the social and economic developments of the region. Thus, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) was of fi cially formed. A decision was also taken to establish a Secretariat. The role of the Secretariat was to interpret the decisions of the Ministers of Education into project proposals for regional cooperation and to facilitate the exchange of human and material resources among the members. Furthermore, it would help to secure fi nancial support for the Organisation. The supreme policymaking body to SEAMEO, of fi cially known as the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council (SEAMEC) continues to provide professional direction and leadership at the highest level. The signing of the SEAMEO Charter by the Ministers of Education of the Member Countries took place in Singapore during the Third SEAMEO Council Conference in 1968 48 th SEAMEO Council Conference held at Thailand in 2015