by Helen Dabu, Secretary General ASPBAE
The Asia South Pacific Association for Basic and Adult Education (ASPBAE) 9th General Assembly Regional Strategic Planning Workshop and 60th Anniversary celebration culminated on November 25-28 in Da Nang, Vietnam, bringing together more than a hundred representatives of ASPBAE members and partners from around 30 countries.
Hosted by ASPBAE’s member, the Vietnam Association for Education for All (VAEFA), the consultative discussions and capacity building sessions embedded in this milestone event were guided by the theme “60 Years of Learning and Acting Together: For a Peaceful, Inclusive, Gender-Just, and Climate-Ready Future for All.”
The ASPBAE Secretary-General, Helen Dabu, framed the opening ceremony taking inspiration from a local Vietnamese proverb which states “When eating fruit, remember who planted the tree”. For the Vietnamese context and culture, it is a constant reminder for them to be grateful to everyone who contributes to their lives. In the same vein, ASPBAE’s journey of 60 years produced transformative good fruits, and this is a moment to celebrate and appreciate those who planted the ASPBAE tree and the collective journey of members, Executive Council, staff and partners who continue to nurture ASPBAE.
Further, the ASPBAE President and ICAE Vice-President for Asia Pacific, Nani Zulminarni, warmly welcomed the ASPBAE members and partners, emphasizing the importance of building capacities to advocate for the education rights of marginalized groups and sustaining a strong voice to advance the learning needs and interests of all, especially marginalized children, youth and adults in the region.
With ASPBAE being a founding member of ICAE, and one of the most enduring civil society regional networks advancing transformative adult learning and education (ALE), this event also included a dedicated plenary session on “Reinforcing a Rights-Based Approach to ALE within a Lifelong Learning (LLL) Framework,” with a framing input on ‘Transforming Adult Learning and Education Through System Building Approach (ALESBA)’ provided by Uwe Gartenschlaeger, the Director of DVV International and ICAE Executive Committee Member.
The last day of the programme featured a session entitled “Sustaining our Movements for Education at National, Regional, and Global Levels: A commemorative reflection inspired by ASPBAE leaders who have passed on since the 50th Anniversary.” Among others, this included an input from ASPBAE’s Consulting Director for Policy and Strategic Directions, and former Secretary-General from 1995 to 2020, Maria Khan, recalling those who have contributed to what ASPBAE has become, an organisation able to dare strive for a future where it remains relevant, credible and powerful. Closing and synthesising insights for this movement-building session were also provided by Dr. Jose Roberto Guevara, the President of ICAE, who joined the discussion via Zoom platform.
As part of the Assembly, the new Executive Council (EC) for the term 2025-2028 was inducted. The incoming ASPBAE President, Peter Clinton from the Adult and Community Education (ACE) Aotearoa, New Zealand, was introduced and recognized for his leadership.
Incoming ASPBAE EC (2025-2028):
- ASPBAE President: Mr. Peter Clinton (Adult and Community Education (ACE) Aotearoa, NZ)
- South Asia: Ms. Archana Dwivedi (Nirantar Trust, India)
- South Asia: Mr. Shantha Kulathunge (Coalition for Educational Development, Sri Lanka)
- East Asia: Ms. Tungalag Dondogdulam (“All for Education” National Civil Society Coalition of Mongolia)
- East Asia: Mr. Takafumi Miyake (Japan NGO Network for Education (JNNE), Japan)
- Southeast Asia: Ms. Hawng Tsai (Thinking Classroom Foundation, Myanmar)
- Southeast Asia: Mr. José de Jesus (Civil Society Education Partnership, Timor Leste)
- South Pacific: Ms. Shirley Abraham (Vanuatu Association of Non-Government Organization (VANGO), Vanuatu)
- South Pacific: Mr. Jack Kalisto (Coalition for Education Solomon Islands (COESI), Solomon Islands)
- Central Asia: Ms. Rahbar Majidova (“Gurdofarid” Public Organization, Tajikistan)
- Central Asia: Mr. Tilebaldy Uulu Eliizar (Institute for Youth Development, Kyrgyzstan)
