Among the dignitaries who welcomed the SEAMEC President during the months of June and September 1997 were Acting Prime Minister of Malaysia Dato Seri Anwar Ibrahim in Malaysia, former Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Sukavich Rangsitpol in Thailand and His Royal Highness Prince Mohamed Bolkiah, Minister of Foreign Affairs, in Brunei.

His visits strengthened the SEAMEO family and promoted cohesiveness especially on the ministerial level.  In Singapore, H E Secretary Gloria discussed many important matters with the Minister of Education Rear Admiral (NS) Teo Chee Hean including the  possible membership and associate memberships of other countries to SEAMEO.  The  SEAMEC President's meeting with Dato Sri Najib tun Razak, Minister of Education in Malaysia, resulted to an agreement on the teaching of English by some 200 Filipino teachers in Malaysian elementary and secondary schools.

The SEAMEC President also visited H E Dato Abdul Aziz Umar in Brunei, H E Professor Dr -Ing Wardiman Djojonegoro in Indonesia, Deputy Minister Areepan Uttarasin in Thailand  and MOET Vice Minister Dr Tran Chi Dao in Viet Nam.  The meetings allowed all parties to acquaint themselves on current educational issues and developmental thrusts.

Promotion of Teachers and Students Exchange

During the course of his visit, he was accompanied by an advanced team, representing various educational institutions from the Philippines, to meet and identify partner schools in SEAMEO Member Countries and promote student  and teacher exchange.  The team visited schools in the region including the Junior Training College in Ho Chi Minh City and Cher Van An, the oldest, largest and finest upper secondary school in Hanoi.  The SEAMEC President himself visited Nakhoda Ragam Vocational School in Brunei.

These meetings resulted to the signing of a number of Memorandum of Understanding between the Philippines and SEAMEO Member Countries such as Thailand.  Through the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) representatives, the Philippines established a twinning project and exchange programme for Filipino teachers.  Filipino students themselves will also be encouraged to begin exchanging communication, celebrating important events, and other activities for both countries.  The Memorandum of Understanding between Thailand and the Philippines was signed by the SEAMEC President and Thailand Deputy Minister of Education, Areepen Uttarasin, on September 23, at the Ministry of Education in Bangkok.   It provided for the sending of initially, three to four selected teachers from the elementary and secondary level.  The represented country will be responsible for handling all travel and other incidental expenses while the host country will take charge of all expenses during the period of visit.  A maximum of two weeks was provided in the MOU.

Reaffirming the Support of the Associate Member Countries and Opening up New Avenues for Cooperation

Visits to three Associate Member Countries in Europe were held in late July to early August with Philippine Education Undersecretary Erlinda C Pefianco representing the SEAMEC President.

In Netherlands, Undersecretary Pefianco met with Dr J Walenkamp, head of Department of Human Resource and institutional development, NUFFIC (Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education) and Ms M Galle, staff member of the Training and Fellowship Desk, NUFFIC.   Undersecretary Pefianco presented a comprehensive overview of the DECS system, SEAMEC concerns, and the needs of the CARAGA region.  The issues zeroed in on teacher development, both pre-service and in-service, particularly in the fields of science and mathematics.

In France, Undersecretary Pefianco met with Mr Allan Perritaz, Deputy of the International Relations and Cooperation of the French Ministry of Education, as well as representatives from the Director of High School and College and Personnel Training Division and the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs.   During the meetings, Undersecretary Pefianco led discussions on the multigrade school system, teacher in-service training, and the sister school project.

The Directors and Rectorship of Bretagne including Mr Giles Gastinel, Director of the Educational and Cultural Affairs of the Bretagne Region held exploratory discussions with the Undersecretary on educational matters covering the areas of school administration, local government participation in education, educational assistance, state participation in educational matters.   Rennes Mayor Edmand Herve discussed the participation of the city government in the education of its constituents.  He discussed how the local government provides the necessary educational facilities, equipment, clerical assistance, and teaching aids to assist the regular teacher in school.

In Germany, the Philippine Education Undersecretary met German Federal Ministry of Education officials headed by Secretary General Wermer Negel of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Federal States and Dr Fritz Shaumann, State Secretary of Federal Ministry of Education, Science and Research and Technology.  The videotape showing the Dual System of Education in Germany sparked tremendous interest among the Philippine delegates.

Overall, the visits opened up new avenues to accommodate SEAMEO's growing network and further increase the organization's linkages with international institutions.

Visits to the SEAMEO Secretariat and the SEAMEO Centres/Network

H E Secretary Gloria also visited the SEAMEO Centres/Network where he was briefed on the operations of RECSAM, TROPMED/Indonesia, SEAMOLEC, BIOTROP, RIHED, SPAFA and TROPMED/Thailand.  In VOCTECH, His Excellency opened the Experts Meeting on the Formulation of the 2nd Five-Year Development Plan of the Centre.  He also spent some time with the students of TROPMED/Malaysia.  At RELC, two major issues were taken up: functional second language as an emerging language of communication in Asia and basic command of Asian language by SEAMEO Member Countries.

During the term of H E Secretary Gloria, the SEAMEO Centres in the Philippines, namely INNOTECH, SEARCA and TROPMED/Philippines, with the participation of SPAFA, mounted exhibits at the Department of Education, Culture and Sports (DECS) Lobby.  The theme of the exhibit was "Managing Human Resource Development in Southeast Asia in the 21st Century".   Country exhibits were also held at different regional offices in the Philippines.   Dr Imelda Colmenar Stuckle from DECS coordinated the Exhibit and also edited the SEAMEC Courier, a publication which reported on the activities of the SEAMEC President.

In Thailand, His Excellency also visited the SEAMEO Secretariat where he shared his inspiring experience on current developments in Philippine education.  In addressing the executive arm of the organization, he emphasized his thrust as head of SEAMEC.   They included information technology, promotion of strong regional cultural and family values and environmental education, among others.

His Excellency  visited the SEAMEO Secretariat, Bangkok, Thailand

(Ref: SEAMEO Annual Report 1996-97.  Bangkok: SEAMEO Secretariat, 1997.  p.9.)

Sukavich 1996