Development Management Policy Seminar: Education Finance and Administration in ASEAN + 3

Dr. Lina Benete, an Education Policy Specialist at UNESCO Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education (UNESCO Bankok), delivered a lecture on “Education Finance and Administration in ASEAN+3” to more than 50 researchers, practitioners, and students on June 25, 2015.

Dr. Benete started her presentation by highlighting the implications of education in Asia-Pacific region. She clearly stated the value of education in a new development context, the underlying socio-economic changes and the implications for education from different aspects of socio-economic development of the region.

She then introduced the concept of education policy and management in the context of the Asia-Pacific region. Dr. Benete mainly talked about education system structures in Asia-Pacific region, as well as education policies and approaches of decentralization in these countries. Regarding decentralization as strategy, she emphasized the role of teachers and the private sector and the potential challenges to the process of decentralization from the point of view of countries in the region.

Dr. Benete concluded her lecture by explaining education finance systems in Asia-Pacific region. She utilized clear illustrations to highlight the multi-faced situation of education finance in this area. From the legislative institution, to the supply and allocation side of funding, she showed the importance of having a clear financing strategy for the efficient and effective development and provision of education in any country, including SEAN+3 member countries.

At the end of the lecture, the chairperson (Professor Keiichi Ogawa) welcomed questions from the seminar participants. During the question and answer session the participants were very active and curious and as such raised a lot of questions based on the presentation, work experiences and research interests. While responding to the various questions, Dr. Lina Benete gave kind and professional explanations/ responses. The seminar was a unique and rare opportunity for the participants gained plentiful knowledge regarding not only education finance in Asia-Pacific region but also related administration systems.

Authored by Ma Jingyuan
Master Student