Vietnamese Officials’ Study Visits SEAMEO

Vietnamese Officials’ Study Visits to
Some SEAMEO Member Countries in 1997 and 1998

SEAMEO Secretariat as the executive arm of the Ministers of Education Council in Southeast Asia with its 14 SEAMEO Centres located in some Member Countries has a great network in the region. This potential is very effective for use of various kind of activities. One of them is Study Tour or Visits to the Member Countries by any institution or organization from any country in or outside the region. Vietnamese Officials of Primary Education Project and the Central Commission for Science and Education in Vietnam have had this kind of programme by requesting the SEAMEO Secretariat to organize the study tour in 1997 and 1998 as described further.

Background

The recent years have been a period of great change for the Vietnamese people. Vietnam’s Government is in the process of moving from a centrally planned economy to a market driven economy. Another challenge for the Government is introducing an open-door policy for mutual learning and understanding with member nations in Southeast Asia and in other parts of the world. Learning from neighbours and exchanging ideas is of particular interest of the Vietnamese Government. A study tour by Government officials is one way of enhancing relationships abroad.

Objectives

The main objective of the visit is to provide the individuals involved with a greater understanding of education, science and culture in Thailand. The study is a marvellous opportunity to gather invaluable ideas for use in Vietnam’s education system. In addition, the tour can function as an important tool to strengthen long-term relationships in science and culture through mutual understanding and the exchanging of ideas.

Activities, Progress and Recommendations

The two main groups of the visit are Primary Education Project, Ministry of Education and Training (MOET), Vietnam and The Central Commission for Education and Science, Vietnam.

	Primary Education Project, MOET, Vietnam
	List of Institutions/Agencies Involved in the Implementation of the Study Visit
	Schedule of Study Visits to Nearby Countries
	Number of Officials in the Study Visit
	The Central Commission for Education and Science
	List of the Vietnamese Officials to Thailand from 25 August to 4 September 1998
	List of the Vietnamese Officials to Thailand from 14-24 September 1998

Primary Education Project,
Ministry of Education and Training (MOET),Vietnam

Activities

The activities of the study visit included visiting some institutions in a particular country of SEAMEO region to get lecture, discussion, site visit and prepare a report of the visit. A number of relevant institutions in four Member Countries were involved in the implementation of the study visit as shown in Attachment 1. The study visit for all groups was implemented in the entire year of 1997, see Attachment 2 for the schedule of the visits.

Progress

The project was going on as planned. There was none but very insignificant changes had been made from the plan and this did not affect the project activities. Some trips, in fact, were shifted one-day in advance/delay due to flight problems to Malaysia but the activities remained unchanged. Few participants were replaced due to sickness and unanticipated problems. Host institutions of the countries involved have been very cooperative and accommodative to the visiting officials. For this, SEAMEO Secretariat had been successfully coordinating the sending of 806 Vietnamese educational officials consisting of 48 Key Personnel, 80 National and Provincial Managers, and 678 District Education Managers as shown in the following table:

No.	Date of Visit		*Host Institution**	No. and Type of Officials	Country of Destination	Remarks
No.	Planned	Actual	*Host Institution**	No. and Type of Officials	Country of Destination	Remarks
1.	25-31 Jan 1997	As planned	IDEA	16 Key Personnel	Thailand	-
2.	1-9 Feb 1997	As planned	IDEA	32, National and Provincial Managers	Thailand	Two names changed
3.	14-20 Feb 1997	14-21 Feb 1997	INNOTECH	16 Key Personnel	Philippines	One day longer
4.	15-23 Feb 1997	As planned	IDEA	32, National and Provincial Managers	Thailand	One name changed
5.	23 Feb – 3 Mar 1997	As planned	CDC	16, National and Provincial Managers	Indonesia	-
6.	3-9 Mar 1997	As planned	IAB	16, Key Personnel	Malaysia	-
7.	9-15 Mar 1997	As planned	CDC	21, District Education Managers	Indonesia	-
8.	16-22 Mar 1997	As planned	CDC	21, District Education Managers	Indonesia	-
9.	16-22 Mar 1997	As planned	IDEA	42, District Education Managers	Thailand	-
10.	23-29 Mar 1997	As planned	CDC	21, District Education Managers	Indonesia	One name changed
11.	6-12 Apr 1997	As planned	CDC	21, District Education Managers	Indonesia	-
12.	7-15 Apr 1997	7-16 Apr 1997	IAB	16, National and Provincial Managers	Malaysia	One day longer
13.	5-13 May 1997	6-15 May 1997	IAB	16, National and Provincial Managers	Malaysia	Change of dates, one day longer
14.	11-17 May 1997	As planned	IDEA	42, District Education Managers	Thailand	-
15.	25-31 May 1997	As planned	IDEA	42, District Education Managers	Thailand	-
16.	2-10 June 1997	3-12 June 1997	IAB	16, National and Provincial Managers	Malaysia	Change of dates, one day longer
17.	15-21 June 1997	As planned	IDEA	42, District Education Managers	Thailand	-
18.	23-29 June 1997	23-30 June 1997	IAB	21, District Education Managers	Malaysia	One day longer
19.	13-19 July 1997	As planned	IDEA	42, District Education Managers	Thailand	One name changed
20.	14-20 July 1997	14-21 July 1997	IAB	21, District Education Managers	Malaysia	One day longer, one name changed
21.	4-10 Aug 1997	4-11 Aug 1997	IAB	21, District Education Managers	Malaysia	One day longer
22.	10-16 Aug 1997	As planned	IDEA	42, District Education Managers	Thailand	-
23.	18-24 Aug 1997	18-25 Aug 1997	IAB	21, District Education Managers	Malaysia	One day longer
24.	1-7 Sept 1997	3-10 Sept 1997	IAB	21, District Education Managers	Malaysia	One day longer, change of dates
25.	7-13 Sept 1997	As planned	IDEA	42, District Education Managers	Thailand	-
26.	15-21 Sept 1997	15-22 Sept 1997	IAB	21, District Education Managers	Malaysia	One day longer
27.	21-27 Sept 1997	22-28 Sept 1997	IDEA	42, District Education Managers	Thailand	Change of dates
28.	6-12 Oct 1997	6-13 Oct 1997	IAB	21, District Education Managers	Malaysia	One day longer
29.	20-26 Oct 1997	20-27 Oct 1997	IAB	21, District Education Managers	Malaysia	One day longer
30.	2-8 Nov 1997	3-10 Nov 1997	IAB	21, District Education Managers	Malaysia	One day longer, change of dates
31.	17-23 Nov 1997	17-24 Nov 1997	IAB	21, District Education Managers	Malaysia	One day longer

In addition to the planned activities, some extra/support activities were also provided and were conducted sufficiently. These activities were based on the participants’ interest. The participants were satisfied with this arrangement that was reflected through their feedback to SEAMEO Secretariat.

* CDC: The Centre for Curriculum Development
IAB: The Institute of Aminuddin Baki
IDEA: The Institute for Development of Educational Administrators
INNOTECH: SEAMEO Regional Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology

Recommendations

Regarding the problems encountered and for the validity of the study visit and their reports that may be used as a reference, at the end of the project SEAMEO Secretariat recommended as follows:

Representative of each group submit a report on their visit to the National project Manager in Vietnam.
The Project send a copy of each report to SEAMEO Secretariat and the host institution, which they have visited.
The host institution particularly, and also SEAMEO Secretariat be requested to put comments and suggestions on the reports.
Representative/s from SEAMEO Secretariat and the host institutions be invited by the Primary Education Project to participate in the national seminar to be conducted in Vietnam soon after the visits end. By this they can provide comments and suggestions to validate the conclusions of the visits. To secure the participation, the Project should shoulder the cost of the representatives’ participation.

PRIMARY EDUCATION PROJECT
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, VIETNAM
List of Institutions /Agencies Involved in the
Implementation of the Study Visit

Institutions/Agencies Involved in Particular Countries
Indonesia	Malaysia	Philippines	Thailand
Office of Educational and Cultural Research and Development	Institute Aminuddin Baki	SEAMEO INNOTECH Centre	Institute for Development of Education Administrators
Centre for Curriculum and Educational Facilities Development	Curriculum Development Centre	Bureau of Elementary Education, Department of Education and Sports	Ministry of Education
Centre for Examination Development	State Education Department	Philippine Normal University	Office of the National Primary Education Commission
Directorate of Primary Education	District Education Office	Some Elementary Schools in and out of Metro Manila	Office of Provincial Primary Education Commission
Centre for Information System Development	Related Units in the State and District Education Office; Primary School Unit, Development and Supply Unit, Pupils’ Affairs Unit and Curriculum Unit		Office of District Primary Education Commission
Open University (D2 for Primary Teacher Education)	Some Primary Schools in the vicinity of Kuala Lumpur		Some Primary Schools in and out of Bangkok
Some Primary Schools in and out of Jakarta

PRIMARY EDUCATION PROJECT
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING, VIETNAM
Schedule of Study Visits to Nearby Countries

No.	Type of Participants and Name of Countries	Number of Groups by Months in Year 1997											Total
No.	Type of Participants and Name of Countries	Jan	Feb	March	April	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Total
1	Key Personnel:
	Malaysia	-	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
	Philippines	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
	Thailand	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
2	National and Provincial Managers:
	Indonesia	-	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	1
	Malaysia	-	-	-	1	1	1	-	-	-	-	-	3
	Thailand	-	4	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4
3	District Education Managers:
	Indonesia	-	-	3	1	-	-	-	-	-	-	-	4
	Malaysia	-	-	-	-	-	1	1	2	2	2	2	10
	Thailand	-	-	2	-	4	2	2	2	4	-	-	16
	Total	1	6	6	2	5	4	3	4	6	2	2	41

Notes:

All group visits were completed in year 1997.
First group visits to particular countries started as follows:

Indonesia, 17^th February 1997.

Malaysia, 3^rd March 1997

Philippines, 14^th February, 1997

Thailand, 25^th January 1997

Number of Officials in the Study Visit

	Staff Category	Host Country	Groups	Persons Per Group	Total
A	Kay Personnel of Programme	Malaysia	1	16	16
		Philippines	1	16	16
		Thailand	1	16	16

B	MOET and Provincial Education Managers	Indonesia	1	16	16
		Malaysia	3	16	48
		Thailand	4	16	64

C	District Education Managers	Indonesia	4	21	84
		Malaysia	10	21	210
		Thailand	16	21	336
	Grand Total				806

The Central Commission for Education and Science, Vietnam

Activities

The activities of the study visit included visiting some institutions in Thailand to get information, discussion and visit of facilities. A number of relevant institutions in Thailand were involved in the implementation of the study visit namely Ministry of Education, some schools at primary and secondary education level, SEAMEO RIHED, SEAMEO TROPMED/Network, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok Business College, the Institute for Promotion of Teaching Science and Technology, the Institute for Development of Educational Administrators, hospitals, and some private institution/companies in the field of industrial technology and agriculture. There were two groups visiting only Thailand, one from 25 August to 4 September 1998 and the other from 14 to 24 September 1998.

Progress

Forty officials participated in the study visit comprising 18 officials from group 1 and 22 officials from group 2. See Attachments 4 and 5 for details. The activities were implemented as planned. All participants were actively involved although all communications were translated using English, Vietnamese language and Thai language in few cases.

Recommendations

Based on the progress of the study and for the improvement of benefits, SEAMEO Secretariat recommended as follows :

Each group write a report on their visit to their superior.
The report be improved through a seminar attended by participants of both groups and representatives.
The report be validated by sending them to the main institutions they have visited for comments and input.
Possible implementation be discussed further if all required conditions permit.

List of the Vietnamese Officials to Thailand
From 25 August to 4 September 1998

ID#	Names	Position Held	Place of Work	Note
1.	Mr Bui Duc Thang	Director	Office of the CCES Hanoi	Head of Delegation
2.	Mr Le Xuan Hao	Deputy Director	CES, Dac Lac Province	Deputy Head of Delegation
3.	Mr Le Tung	Director	CES, Ha Tinh Province	Member
4.	Ms Bui Thi Binh	Director	CES, Hao Binh Province	Member
5.	Mr Nguyen Thanh Cong	Deputy Director	CES, Hoa Binh Province	Member
6.	Mr Hoang Hong	Director	CES, Quang Ninh Province	Member
7.	Mr Le Huu Van	Deputy Director	CES, Quang Ninh Province	Member
8.	Mr Tran Trong Hien	Deputy Director	CES, Nam Dinh Province	Member
9.	Mr Nguyen Phu Dong	Deputy Director	CES, Bac Ninh Province	Member
10.	Mr Pham Thanh Toan	Deputy Head	CES, Gia Luong District Bac Ninh Province	Member
11.	Mr Nguyen Duc Thuc	Head	CES, Que Vo District Bac Ninh Province	Member
12.	Ms Nguyen Thi Phi Thao	Senior Expert	CES, Dac Lac Province	Member
13.	Mr Le Dinh Hien	Head	CES, Madrac District Dac Lac Province	Member
14.	Mr Nguyen Duc Hanh	Head	CES, Krong Bong District Dac Lac Province	Member
15.	Mr Vuong Thai Lu	Head	CES, Dac Rlap District Dac Lac Province	Member
16.	Mr Nguyen Duc Thuan	Head	CES, Ea Sup District Dac Lac Province	Member
17.	Mr Le Ba Kieu	Director	CES, Dong Thap Province	Member
18.	Interpreter			Interpreter

Notes:

CCES : Central Commission for Education and Science
CES : Commission for Education and Science

List of the Vietnamese Officials to Thailand
From 14-24 September 1998

ID#	Names	Position Held	Place of Work	Note
1.	Mr Nguyen Xuan Man	Deputy Director	Office of the CCES Hanoi	Head of Delegation
2.	Ms Pham Thi Hong Nga	Deputy Director	CES, Soc Trang Province	Deputy Head of Delegation
3.	Mr Nong Hai Pin	Director	CES, Cao Bang Province	Member
4.	Mr Vu Dinh Khuyen	Deputy Director	CES, Phu Tho Province	Member
5.	Ms Cam Thi Dinh	Deputy Director	CES, San La Province	Member
6.	Mr Le Trung Son	Deputy Director	CES, Thanh Hao Province	Member
7.	Mr Pham Cong Dam	Deputy Director	CES, Ha Giang Province	Member
8.	Ms Tran Thi Minh	Senior Expert	CES, Ha Giang Province	Member
9.	Mr Pham Van Thi	Director	CES, Binh Dinh Province	Member
10.	Mr Nguyen Chien Thang	Director	CES, Vinh Long Province	Member
11.	Ms Le Thi Dung	Director	CES, An Giang Province	Member
12.	Mr Le Minh Nhut	Deputy Head	CES, Moc Hoa District Long An Province	Member
13.	Mr Tran Van Truoc	Deputy Head	CES, Tan Thanh District Long An Province	Member
14.	Mr Le Van Hai	Deputy Head	CES, Duc Hue District Long An Province	Member
15.	Mr Do Duc Xuong	Head	CES, Gia Lai Province	Member
16.	Mr Trinh Van Viet	Head	CES, An Khe District Gia Lai Province	Member
17.	Mr Hoang Ba Cong	Head	CES, Mang Yang District Gia Lai Province	Member
18.	Mr Ro Mah Y Da	Head	CES, Chu Se District Gia Lai Province	Member
19.	Mr Nguyen Ba Luong	Head	CES, Pleiku District Gia Lai Province	Member
20.	Mr Trieu Chinh Duat	Head	CES, Phu Yen District Khanh Hoa Province	Member
21.	Mr Bui Ngoc Chuyen	Deputy Director	CES, Dong Nai Province	Member
22.	Mr Mai Duc Huy Truong	Programme Officer	SEAMEO Regional Training Centre	Interpreter

Notes:

CCES : Central Commission for Education and Science
CES : Commission for Education and Science