Background

The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) will be celebrating is 55th Anniversary on 30 November 2020. SEAMEO takes pride in its achievements over the years as Southeast Asian’s leading organization in promoting regional cooperation and human resource development in education, science and culture and to commemorate the 55 years, SEAMES is organizing an essay writing competition with the theme “Stronger Together for Quality, Accessible, and Responsive Education.”

We expect to receive reflective, insightful and inspiring entries on how you or your organization benefited from SEAMEO innovations and programmes you or your school/organisation especially during these unprecedented times.  The essays should exhibit creative and innovative approaches so that the narratives would attract immense reading interest.  Writers may recollect their most powerful and memorable moments, events, or learnings from the programmes and projects of SEAMEO. Stories may be told in the form of reflectional essays or anecdotes.

Objectives

The objectives of the SEAMEO’s 50th Anniversary Essay Writing Contest are as follows:     

• To share stories of positive change amidst the COVID-19 pandemic
• To document how education and learning was like during the COVID-19 pandemic
• To build a collection of personal accounts of SEAMEO through the eyes of its ultimate beneficiaries: the peoples of Southeast Asia

Essay Writing Theme

Considering that this is the 55th Anniversary of SEAMEO, the topic of this competition is: Stronger Together for Quality, Accessible, and Responsive Education.

Eligible Participants

This contest is open to all primary/secondary and tertiary students from the 11 SEAMEO Member Countries.

Prizes

Prizes for the winning articles are as follows:

• Winner, Primary/Secondary Level: USD 200
• Winner, Tertiary Level: USD 200

Three entries from the Primary/Secondary and Tertiary Level shall also be chosen to receive USD 100. 

Submission Information

1. All essays must be original and has never been published or submitted elsewhere.
2. Entries must be written in English and formatted as follows:
   • Font: Times New Roman
   • Font Size: 12
   • Number of Words: Maximum of 600 words
   • File Format: Microsoft Word
   • File Name Protocol: You should name your file using this your country and followed by your name. To illustrate, PHILIPPINES_Raffy_Cada. 
3. All entries must be submitted using this online link: https://forms.gle/Hh1R3vxRpFZC8QQd6
4. Deadline for submission: 15 November 2020 (Extension)2020

Criteria

All entries shall be assessed using the following criteria:

• Relevance to the theme
• Originality
• Writing Structure
• Organization
• Transition
• Use of English language
• Vocabulary
• Tone
• Style
• Content
• Captivating
• Clear point of view
• Consistency
• Human interest and ability to engage attention and sympathy
• Creativity and uniqueness 

Important Dates

Rules and Conditions 

1. In entering this contest, all applicants agree, acknowledge and guarantee that their entries are their own original work and do not infringe on the copyrights, trademarks, moral rights, rights of privacy/publicity or intellectual property rights of any person or entity, and that no other party has any right, title, claim, or interest in the essay.
2. The SEAMEO Secretariat shall keep all data as confidential. However, SEAMEO may use the information provided in non-commercial reports, publications, video productions, Powerpoint presentations, exhibits, website and intranet, and used for educational purposes.
3. SEAMEO Secretariat shall have the right to store the winning entries and finalists in its database and also use them for publication purposes.

 

Contact Details  

For enquiry, please contact: 

SEAMEO 55th Anniversary Essay Writing Contest
SEAMEO Secretariat
920 Sukhumvit Road, Klongtoey District,
Bangkok 10110, THAILAND

Tel: +662 391 0144 I Fax: +662 381 2587

Email:  raphael@seameo.org

Website: www.seameo.org