History of SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Mathematics

SEAMEO Regional Centre for Quality Improvement of Teachers and Education Personnel (QITEP) in Mathematics is one of the Centres under the SEAMEO (Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization). The main function of QITEP in Mathematics is developing capacity building for mathematics teachers and educationpersonnel (supervisors, headmasters, and administration staff) in Southeast Asia.

SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Mathematics is established because of the strong effort of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia and SEAMEO member countries to improve the professionalism of Teachers and Education Personnel in Southeast Asia countries.

It is a fact that the number of teachers in Indonesia, about 2.7 million, is the biggest in Southeast Asia. The teachers and other teachers in Southeast Asia countries need to develop and enhance their professional competence. Unfortunately, the capacities of the existing centres are not sufficient to cater the needs of all those teachers.

Consequently, the Government of Indonesia proposed to SEAMEO (Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organization) to establish three new SEAMEO Regional Centres in Indonesia, namely RECFOS (Regional Centre for Science), RECFOM (Regional Centre for Mathematics), and RECFOL (Regional Centre for Language). Later on, the names of the three centres were proposed as SEAMEO Regional Centre for Quality Improvement of Teachers and Education Personnel in Science, in Mathematics, and in Language

The initial SEAMEO Centre for Quality Improvement of Teachers and Education Personnel (QITEP) in Mathematics was the proposal endorsement of the three Centres (hereafter QITEP in Language, in Mathematics, and in Science) by the SEAMEO High Officials in November 2007 and presented in the In-Camera Session of the 43rd SEAMEO Council Conference, March 12-13, 2008 in Kuala Lumpur. By the time, some countries agreed on the establishment of the three centres with some considerations:

1. The centres should avoid program duplication
2. The commitment of the Government of the Republic of Indonesia (GOI) on the financial sustainability

On August 7-8, 2008, representatives from 10 SEAMEO member countries convened in Yogyakarta for an International Workshop on Strengthening Educational Quality in Southeast Asia through Networking and Partnership to gather input and support on the establishment of the three new Centres. In the workshop, the mentioned representatives, participants, and representatives of MoNE drafted the specialty programmes of the three new centres. The Ministry of National Education of Indonesia (MoNE) was also conducting survey and feasibility of the establishment of the three new Centres. Then, SEAMEO Secretariat circulated ad-referendum to get approval from the SEAMEO Councils on the establishment of the three SEAMEO QITEPs.

Representatives from 11 SEAMEO member countries who attended The International Workshop on Strengthening Educational Quality in Southeast Asia through Networking and Partnersip, August 7-8, 2008 in Inna Garuda Hotel, Yogyakarta President SEAMEO Council, Mr Dato' Sri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein together with Minister of National Education of Indonesia, Prof Dr. Bambang Sudibyo, M.B.A., High official of Indonesia MoNE, and SEAMEO Director Board who attended The International Workshop on Strengthening Educational Quality in Southeast Asia through Networking and Partnersip , August 7-8, 2008 in Inna Garuda Hotel, Yogyakarta

Session of group discussion Plenary session

The result of Ad-Referendum Response was reported in In-Camera Session during the 31st SEAMEO High Officially Meeting (HOM), January 19, 2009 with the accomplishment:

1. seven countries (Malaysia, Timor Leste, Myanmar, Philippines, Vietnam, Laos, Indonesia) fully supported the establishment of the three centres;
2. two countries (Singapore and Thailand) needed additional information on the financial commitment of the Government of Indonesia and the avoidance of programs duplication;
3. two countries (Brunei Darussalam and Cambodia) were on progress of considering to support the establishment of the Centres.

The 31st SEAMEO High Officials Meeting (HOM) in Bangkok, Thailand, January 19-21, 2009 approved the feasibility study and asked Indonesia to set a Technical Working Committee to prepare three important documents, namely:

1. the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between SEAMEO and the host government,
2. the Enabling Instrument (EI), and
3. the Terms of Reference of the SEAMEO Regional Centre for Quality Improvement of Teachers and Education Personnel (QITEP) in Science, in Mathematics, and in Language

31st SEAMEO High Officially Meeting (HOM), January 19, 2009 in The Amari Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand, January 19-21, 2009. It was officially opened by H.E. Jurin Laksanawisit, Minister of Education of Royal Thai and president of SEAMEO Council

The establishment of SEAMEO Regional Centre for Quality Improvement of Teachers and Education Personnel (QITEP) in Mathematics was approved based on the Ad Referendum decision of the President and Members of the SEAMEO Council at the 44th SEAMEO Council Conference on April 5-8, 2009 in Phuket, Thailand. Upon the Council's approval and in response to the resolution of the Conference, the Ministry of National Education (MoNE) Indonesia set up a Technical Working Committee (TWC). The first Technical Working Committee Meeting was commenced on April 26-28, 2009 at Hotel Atlet Century, Jakarta to discuss and draft the three documents.

44th SEAMEO Council Conference on April 5 - 8, 2009 in Phuket, Thailand attended by Sotheast Asia Ministers of Education

SEAMES Director Board and High Official of MoNEof Indonesia attended Technical Working Comittee Workshop, April 26-28, 2009 The Acting Directors of New SEAMEO Centres (SEAMEO QITEP in Science, Mathematics, and Language) in the Technical Working Comittee Workshop, April 26-27, 2009)

Three months later, SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Science, in Mathematics and in Language were launched in Jakarta, July 13, 2009 in the afternoon. The launching was attended by the President of SEAMEO Council (SEAMEC), Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit, The Minister of Education of Royal Thai. Before doing the launching, in the morning on July 13, 2009 in Yogyakarta, Mr. Jurin also officially opened the first course conducted by SEAMEO QITEP in Mathematics, Enhancing Mathematics Learning in Primary School Using Realistic Mathematics Education.

President of SEAMEO Council (SEAMEC), Mr. Jurin Laksanawisit officially launched SEAMEO Centre for QITEP in Mathematics The first course conducted by SEAMEO QITEP in Mathematics, Enhancing Mathematics Learning in Primary School Using Realistics Mathematics Education

The second Technical Working Committee Meeting was convened from 8 to 11 September 2009 in Solo is officially opened by SEAMES Director, Dato' Ahamad bin Sipon

On August 28, 2009, MoNE Indonesia submitted drafts of the MoA and Enabling Instrument for initial review and comments by the Secretariat in preparation for presentation at the 32nd SEAMEO High Officials Meeting in November 2009 and subsequently, the 45th SEAMEO Council Conference in January 2010. In response, the Secretariat provided written comments and suggestions on the draft documents to MoNE Indonesia. Then, a second Technical Working Committee Meeting was convened from 8 to 11 September 2009 in Solo, to further discuss and finalize the draft documents including the first draft Terms of Reference.

On September 17, 2009 MoNE Indonesia submitted drafts of the Memorandum of Agreement and the Enabling Instrument which were then forwarded to Prof Dr. Adul Wichiencharoen, SEAMEO Legal Advisor for advice. On October 27, 2009, the SEAMEO Secretariat forwarded the legal input to MoNE Indonesia for confirmation. The second draft of the Terms of Reference of the Centre was submitted to the Secretariat for comments on October 27, 2009. The reviewed document was then returned to MoNE Indonesia on November 2, 2009, and on November 4, 2009, confirmation on the final draft of the Terms of Reference of the Centre was received. On November 5, 2009, MoNE Indonesia confirmed the final drafts of the Memorandum of Agreement and the Enabling Instrument. The 32nd SEAMEO High Officially Meting (HOM) from 22 to 26 November in Bangkok, Thailand approved the documents of SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Mathematics. Eventually, The 44th SEAMEO Council Conference, 26 - 29 January 2010 in Cebu, Philippines, legalized the establishment of SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Mathematics

Delegation of The 44th SEAMEO Council Conference, January 26 - 29, 2010 in Cebu, Philippines