SEAMEO INNOTECH Joins Regional Effort to Strengthen STEM Education Leadership

SEAMEO INNOTECH joined regional partners in launching a new programme that puts school leadership at the center of improving STEM education across Southeast Asia. 

Representing INNOTECH, Dr. Robbie Macalde, Manager of the Learning Development and Management Office, and Ms. Joan Atienza, Senior Specialist and Head of the School Leadership Development Unit, participated in the Kick-off Event for the STEM Education Leadership for Change Programme on 5 February 2026 in Bangkok. The event was organized by SEAMEO STEM-ED, with support from Chevron, and hosted at the Teachers’ Council of Thailand. 

The programme responds to a growing recognition across the region: while innovative STEM teaching is happening in classrooms, lasting improvement depends on strong leadership. School leaders and education authorities play a key role in guiding instruction, supporting teachers, and ensuring that quality practices are sustained and scaled. 

The initiative builds on lessons from the STEM ED-initiated Southeast Asian Teacher Education Programme (SEA-TEP), which has reached over 1,800 educators since 2023. SEA-TEP showed that evidence-based STEM teaching aligned with the PISA framework can improve both teaching practices and students’ problem-solving skills—but also highlighted that these gains cannot last without active leadership support. 

The STEM Education Leadership for Change is Implemented by SEAMEO STEM-ED with support from Chevron and in partnership with SEAMOLEC, RECSAM, SEAMEO INNOTECH, Caravan of Knowledge, Michigan State University (MSU), and national partners. The programme focuses on strengthening leadership practices, supporting whole-school improvement, and promoting evidence-informed decision-making. 

In its first year of implementation in the Philippines, the programme will involve around 80 school leaders, supervisors, and STEM teachers, nominated by the Department of Education (DepEd). 

By connecting effective classroom practices with leadership development and regional collaboration, the STEM Education Leadership for Change Programme aims to support sustainable and scalable improvements in STEM education—helping schools better prepare learners for an increasingly complex world.