MOROCCO became the first African and Arab country to join the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization, an intergovernmental group that promotes cooperation in education, science, and culture among Southeast Asian nations.

The membership of Morocco was approved at the virtual 51st SEAMEO Council Conference held last month.

Morocco joins Australia, Canada, Germany, France, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom as SEAMEO Associate Member.

“The participation of the Kingdom of Morocco as an Associate Member of SEAMEO will constitute more substantive cooperation in the education field based on the South-South and win-win partnership between the Kingdom of Morocco and Southeast Asian countries. The priority areas of collaboration include the areas of Mobility and Exchanges, Research and Collaboration, and Higher Education,” the SEAMEO Secretariat said.

It added that the membership “gives privileged access to Morocco for the promotion of cooperation with all countries of the Southeast Asian region in the fields of education, scientific research, and culture and paves the way for active participation in the programs and projects of the Organization.”

The Philippines is a SEAMEO member.

There are 26 SEAMEO specialist institutions in the country including the Los Baños-based Southeast Asian Regional Center Study and Research in Agriculture, SEAMEO Regional Center for Educational Innovation and Technology in Quezon City and Regional Centre for Public Health Hospital Administration, Environmental and Occupational Health in Manila.

The Philippines is represented in the SEAMEO Council by Education Secretary Leonor Briones.