Lapus to head group of Southeast Asian education ministers

MANILA, Philippines - Education Secretary Jesli Lapus has been unanimously elected by education ministers of Southeast Asia as president of the Council of Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO).

“I am honored by the confidence of my fellow ministers in my capacity to lead the organization,” Lapus said. “This proves that world education leaders have taken notice of how we manage education in our country.

“They know we are serious in what we do and we have quantifiable results to support it,” he added.

The election was held during the annual SEAMEO Council conference held in Phuket, Thailand where Lapus leads the Philippine delegation.

Established in 30 November 1965, SEAMEO is a chartered international organization that aims to promote cooperation in education, science and culture in the region.

Lapus tapped SEAMEO INNOTECH (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology) to train some 1,600 primary and secondary school heads all over the country under the DepEd eXCELS – Excellence in School Leadership in Southeast Asia.

Lapus was elected into the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Executive Board in 2007, vice president of the 34th UNESCO General Conference, which gave the country a chance to press forward issues facing Philippine public education to the international agenda.     — Rainier Allan Ronda