DELEGATES from 10 Southeast Asian nations recently convened for a two-day regional research forum aimed at developing the Southeast Asian Framework for Motivating Teachers to Stay in the Profession.

The delegates were members of the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) INNOTECH from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam.

The event, organized by SEAMEO INNOTECH headed by Center Director and former education secretary Leonor Briones, delved into the factors that drive teacher motivation across the region.

“INNOTECH recognizes the key role of teachers in improving the quality of education and enhancing student achievement and learning outcomes. The insightful study conducted in the Philippines served as the catalyst for expanding this research to encompass other Southeast Asian countries,” Briones said.

SEAMEO INNOTECH previously conducted a Teacher Motivation study in the Philippines as technical assistance to the Department of Education. This documented the key factors that influence teachers’ decisions to enter and stay in the profession, as well as potential reasons for leaving.

To expand on this research, INNOTECH is currently conducting a study on teacher motivations across Southeast Asia, aiming to develop a per country framework that predicts the motivations of teachers in the region.

Prior to the conduct of the Regional Research Forum, it made significant contributions by gathering teacher contexts and policies related to staying in the teaching profession and conducting interviews with teachers.

The forum was held on September 19-20 2023 at the SEAMEO INNOTECH Pearl Hall, in Quezon City, Philippines.