WE, the Heads of State and Government of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (hereinafter referred to as “ASEAN”), namely Brunei Darussalam, the Kingdom of Cambodia, the Republic of Indonesia, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, the Republic of the Union of Myanmar, the Republic of the Philippines, the Republic of Singapore, the Kingdom of Thailand and the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam on the occasion of the 35th ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, Thailand;
REAFFIRMING our commitment to the vision of the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community (ASCC) Blueprint 2025 to lift the quality of life of its peoples through cooperative activities that are people-oriented, people-centred, environmentally friendly, and geared towards the promotion of sustainable development to face new and emerging challenges in the ASEAN region;
RECALLING the important role of the education sector in realizing the aspirations of the Cha-Am Hua Hin Declaration on Strengthening Cooperation on Education to Achieve an ASEAN Caring and Sharing Community 2009, the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on Higher Education 2015, as well as the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Education for Out-of-School Children and Youth (OOSCY) 2016;
EMPHASIZING the crucial role of inclusive, equitable and quality education as well as the promotion of lifelong learning opportunities for all in realizing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development; and STRESSING the strategic value of partnership by bringing together national governments, international communities, civil societies, the private sectors and other actors in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
DO HEREBY AGREE AS FOLLOWS:
1.1 To encourage the relevant bodies under the Three Pillars of the ASEAN Community to incorporate education for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development into their work plans;
1.2 To foster education for sustainable development (ESD) and provide greater emphasis on the principles of sustainable development in the political commitments of the ASEAN Member States; and
1.3 To promote a better understanding of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, which integrates various related fields of study with the goal of building a peaceful and cohesive society.
2.1 To provide inclusive and quality education, and lifelong learning and training to respond to regional and global trends through formal, non-formal and informal systems;
2.2 To ensure all girls and boys of ASEAN have access to quality early childhood care and education so that they are ready for primary education and accelerate the development of holistic national policies for Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE);
2.3 To promote inclusive education at all levels of education and training to eliminate disparities for the vulnerable and marginalized, those with special needs, and out-of-school children and youth in order to ensure qualified human resources to serve all sectors of society;
2.4 To equip learners with the 21st century skills through an integrated teaching and learning approach and innovation;
2.5 To encourage the application of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in teaching and learning, teacher training, as well as education management and leadership;
2.6 To enhance equitable access to quality and relevant Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and Higher Education to meet the employment demands of national, regional and international markets;
2.7 To encourage the development and strengthening of Educational Management Information System (EMIS) and data utilization for monitoring the progress of Education for 2030 Agenda;
2.8 To enhance qualifications recognition in ASEAN, while building a knowledge and understanding of the implementation of the ASEAN Qualifications Reference Framework (AQRF) and ASEAN Quality Assurance Framework (AQAF);
2.9 To encourage ASEAN Member States to adopt the Southeast Asia Teachers Competency Framework (SEA-TCF) as a framework for teachers development; and
2.10 To empower learners to become active promoters of peaceful, tolerant, inclusive, secure and sustainable societies by equipping them with knowledge, behaviors, attitudes and values on global citizenship.
3.1 To encourage relevant stakeholders and partners, including parents and community leaders, to be involved in achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
3.2 To involve ASEAN learners as key drivers to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development;
3.3 To strengthen collaboration between the education sector and other sectors related to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in order to achieve a sustainable future in the region; and
3.4 To promote the engagement of the ASEAN Centre for Sustainable Development Studies and Dialogue (ACSDSD), the SEAMEO Regional Centre for the Sufficiency Economy Philosophy for Sustainability (SEPS) and other related institutions in conducting and coordinating research on sustainability, human capital development, as well as mobilizing home-grown approaches and best practices, such as Thailand’s concept of “Sufficiency Economy Philosophy (SEP),” in realising the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Reinforce the importance of productive relationships with Strategic Partners, Dialogue Partners, Development Partners, other external partners and relevant stakeholders while exploring efficient ways to implement this Declaration.
Pledge our resolve and commitment to this Declaration to ensure the effective implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to realize ASEAN as the spirit of equality and partnership, so that our people will be empowered to contribute towards peace, progress and prosperity in the region as aspired by the ASEAN founders in 1967.
Adopted in Bangkok, Thailand this Second Day of November in the Year Two Thousand and Nineteen, in a single original copy, in the English language.
Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs