Langkawi: The Langkawi Joint Statement on Out-of-School Children and Youth (OOSCY) has been agreed upon by ASEAN Education Ministers as a framework to tackle the challenges of access to education.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek shared that the document, titled “Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges,” will undergo further refinement in a seminar ahead of the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October. The consensus on this commitment emerged after a lengthy process, with national leaders contributing their perspectives on how ASEAN can unite to implement necessary interventions.
Fadhlina highlighted the strong connection between student dropouts, numeracy, literacy, and poverty, emphasizing the need for serious attention to these issues. She noted that in Malaysia, interventions such as expanding preschool access, strengthening the curriculum through a special committee, and considering digital technology reforms have been undertaken to address foundational learning challenges.
The Langkawi Joint Statement on OOSCY recognizes the exacerbating effects of crises in the ASEAN region, such as climate change, conflicts, deepening poverty, income inequality, and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, on educational inequality. The document stresses the urgency to address these disparities to ensure inclusive, accessible, and high-quality education for OOSCY, as reflected in the ASEAN Declaration on Strengthening Education for OOSCY adopted in 2016.
It further calls for ASEAN Member States to accelerate the implementation of innovative strategies to reduce the number of OOSCY, urging collaboration with development partners, civil society, and the private sector to adopt technology-enabled, inclusive education strategies.
Highlighted strategies to tackle OOSCY issues include Technology-Enabled Learning Solutions, AI-powered predictive analytics, capacity-building programs, Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs), and collaborations with NGOs and civil society organizations. Additional approaches involve Alternative Learning Pathways, Crisis-Responsive Education Policies, Inclusive Education Initiatives, Skills Development, and Data-Driven Decision-Making.
This year marks Malaysia’s fifth term as ASEAN Chairman, having previously held the position in 1977, 1997, 2005, and 2015.