Education ministers from 11 Southeast Asian countries met in Pattaya to discuss initiatives and policies, and set the direction for educational programs and projects.
Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai opened the conference at the Royal Cliff Hotels Group May 7.
Education Minister Narong Pipatanasai delivered the opening speech at what is considered the most important conference of Southeast Asian education ministers, to lay out operational policy and consider development methods.
The meeting is held every two years and this was the eighth time Thailand has hosted it.
Education ministers from 11 Southeast Asian countries take a bow during the opening ceremony at this year’s Southeast Asian Ministers of Education meeting.
Attending were 200 delegates from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Timor-Leste, and Vietnam, along with associate members Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, the Netherlands, Spain, and the United Kingdom. Three associated organizations also were represented: the International Council on Distance Education, Tsukuba University, and the British Council.
Farm Wu Lun, minister for education and training in Vietnam spoke after Narong, acknowledging six people who played major roles in establishing SEAMEO. Among them was Adul Wichiencharoen, the organization’s former secretary who was instrumental in forging connections between countries.
The meeting’s plenary session considered operational plans in, and agreements on, the association’s budget. The conference acknowledged the progress of cooperation with other network members.
As the host country, Thailand organized a forum to exchange opinions on policy in two areas: “Digital Learning for Creating Future Global Citizens” and a ministerial roundtable to confer on the development methods of education in the region for the next decade.
In the first session, Deputy Education Minister Teerakiat Charoensilp presented the country’s vision on managing digital learning to create global citizens, and let the leaders of education from other countries exchange their experiences.
The session also hosted several sideline meetings, including summits between Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia; and Singapore and Laos.
The convention closed with a ministerial roundtable addressing the organization’s mission over the next decade.
