Republic of Korea collaborates with SEAMEO on promoting cultural understanding and exchange through folktales

Valuing folktales as a tool for improving the quality of primary education, especially literacy skills, life skills and cultural understanding of students, the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization in collaboration with the Asia Pacific Centre of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU) organized the SEAMEO-APCEIU Regional Meeting on the Use of Asian Folktales in Classrooms on 10-11 August 2010 in Bangkok, Thailand.

A team of consultants for ASEAN composed of Mr Frank Schorn, Education Advisor and Ms Julia A Loedin, Training Specialist visited SEAMEO Secretariat on 9 August 2010 at the SEAMEO Headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand.

Dato' Dr Ahamad bin Sipon, Director of the SEAMEO Secretariat, Mr Noorhaizamdin Abdullah, Deputy Director for Programme and Development and Dr Tinsiri Siribodhi, Deputy Director for Administration and Communication, SEAMEO Secretariat welcomed the team.

The SEAMEO Secretariat and UNESCO organized a joint merit-making activity called "Thod-Pha-Pa" on 7 August 2010 at the Wat Dhammamongkol Temple in Bangkok, Thailand. "Thod-Pha-pa" is a Buddhist traditional event which is organized during the Buddhist Lent period beginning 27 July to 23 October 2010.  During this time, Buddhist monks are required to remain in temples for contemplation and meditation.  It is also the time for renewed spirit for laymen.

Twenty-one head masters and teachers of Vocational Education in Agriculture from various provinces of Indonesia visited SEAMEO Secretariat and other institutions in Thailand on 1-7 August 2010. The purpose of the visit to the SEAMEO Secretariat and to Thailand was to learn about Thailand's programmes and good practices on vocational education in agriculture which could be adopted and adapted in Indonesia.

The SEAMEO Executive Committee convened its second meeting on 23 July 2010 at the SEAMEO Secretariat Office in Bangkok, Thailand.  The Committee presided, over by the Philippines, deliberated on issues largely pertaining to the operations and performance of the SEAMEO Secretariat and the SEAMEO Regional Centres. Committee Members for 2010 included Brunei Darussalam, the Philippines, Indonesia, Thailand and Vietnam. Vietnam was not represented at the meeting.  The Members were appointed from among the High Officials of the SEAMEO Member Countries.