PASIG CITY, December 18, 2018 – The Department of Education (DepEd), led by Secretary Leonor Magtolis Briones, and the Ministry of Education and Culture of the Republic of Indonesia renewed their productive cooperation under a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) during a welcome dinner for Education Minister Prof. Dr. Muhadjir Effendy at the Summit Lounge of Holiday Inn Manila Galleria, Ortigas Center, Pasig City.

“This MOU, brief as it is, merely recognizes and formalizes the great relationship between our DepEd and the Ministry of Education of Indonesia, but even more, it symbolizes the brotherhood, togetherness, the oneness of Indonesia and the Philippines,” Briones underscored.

The objective of the MOU is to promote cooperation in basic and secondary education on a reciprocal basis, and to promote collaboration in the advancement of knowledge and intellectual development.

“There are many parallels and big commonalities between the two ministries and the education sectors both in terms of its size, student population, and bureaucracy. Even our challenges are similar, like climate change,” DepEd Undersecretary and Chief of Staff Nepomuceno Malaluan shared.

“I’m glad that we just signed the renewal of the MOU on education cooperation between our countries. I believe the renewal of the MOU will mark the joint efforts of both governments in strengthening cooperation in the fields of education,” Minister Effendy added.

The signing of the MOU coincides with the three-day visit of Minister Effendy last November 13 to 15, 2018 in the Philippines. As the incumbent Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Council President, the visit is customary practice undertaken by every council president, and embodied in their roles and responsibilities.

The three SEAMEO Centers in the country, namely, SEAMEO TROPMED, SEAMEO SEARCA, and SEAMEO INNOTECH presented their accomplishments, updates and future plans to Minister Effendy who praised the reports.

The Indonesian Minister is likewise thankful for DepEd’s accomplishments and hard work in supporting the livelihood of people through quality education. He mentioned that he is also inspired by the Department’s passion and commitment to the betterment of the future of people in Southeast Asia.

The DepEd and the Ministry of Education of Indonesia signed an MOU on Basic Education last March 8, 2011 in Jakarta, Indonesia, with a validity of five years. With the renewed MOU in 2018, certain activities are set to be implemented in the next two years and to be reported in the next joint working group meeting in 2020 which Indonesia will host.

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