A regional meeting on the theme “Education as key to achieving all Millennium Development Goals: Prospects and challenges in the Asia-Pacific region" was held on 24 March 2011 in Chonburi, Thailand, in conjunction with the 10th High-Level Meeting on Education for All (EFA). The meeting was co-hosted by the Government of Thailand and the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA), in cooperation with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the United Nations Economic Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and UNICEF. The meeting is part of the preparatory process for the 2011 Annual Ministerial Review (AMR) on “Implementing the internationally agreed goals and commitments in regard to education”.

Throughout the meeting, there were rich discussions in all of the panels on progress and challenges for the Asia-Pacific region in achieving the education related MDGs as well as the other EFA goals. Participants also welcomed the opportunity to discuss the role of education in realizing the other MDGs, including poverty eradication, health and environmental sustainability.

The High-Level Regional Meeting brought together more than 80 regional practitioners and experts to identify integrated approaches and concrete policy measures that ECOSOC can promote in the context of the AMR. The key policy recommendations put forward during the discussions are reflected in a summary report to be presented at the AMR ECOSOC session in July. The meeting was opened by the Minister of Education of Thailand and included participation of the Royal Family of Thailand.

For more information on the meeting, please contact Mr. Alberto Padova, Office for ECOSOC Support and Coordination, UN/DESA (+1 212 963-4759, padova at un dot org).

• Programme
• Background Note
• Statements
  • Mr. Thomas Stelzer, Assistant Secretary General for Policy Co-ordination and Inter-Agency Affairs
  • H.E. Mr. Abulkalam Abdul Momen, Vice-President of ECOSOC Regional Meeting for Asia and the Pacific
  • Dr. Nagesh Kumar, Acting Deputy Executive Secretary and
    Chief Economist, ESCAP
  • Mr. Kishore Singh, UN Special Rapporteur on the Right to
    Education
• Logistics
• List of participants
• Summary Report