Final
Report: 41st SEAMEO Council Conference
The Swissotel the Stamford
Republic of Singapore
22-23 March 2006
The Swissotel the Stamford
Republic of Singapore
22-23 March 2006
Proceedings
Contents |
| Proceedings |
| Appendices |
Appendix
4.3.16 |
Statement
by Mr Ong Keng Yong Secretary-General of ASEAN |
| Mr Chairman,
Excellencies the Education Ministers of the SEAMEO and Associate Member States, Distinguished Delegates, Ladies and Gentlemen, |
I
wish to extend my congratulations to you, Mr Chairman, upon your
election as President of the 41st SEAMEO Council. On behalf of the
ASEAN Secretariat delegation, I would also like to express our thanks
and appreciation for giving us this opportunity to share with you
some thoughts on ASEAN education cooperation and the synergy between
ASEAN and SEAMEO efforts. |
At
the very outset, I would like to highlight to you the strong belief
placed by the ASEAN Leaders in education. Leaders recognise the
important role of education in ASEAN’s social and economic
development and in building our ASEAN Community. As ASEAN moves
towards realising a people-centred, community-based regional organisation
supported by three intertwined pillars of cooperation – in
political/security, economic, and socio-cultural spheres, we need
education to create a “we” feeling among our citizens
in engendering a sense of regional identity and belonging. Education
is a key factor for this process to succeed. |
In
ASEAN today, we place emphasis on sustaining the element of continuity
in our efforts, especially through implementation of ASEAN agreements
and declarations made by ASEAN Leaders in moving forward with our
Community-building efforts. To this end, the ASEAN Secretariat places
importance on synergy of efforts with SEAMEO. We strongly believe
in working with SEAMEO. We appreciate the good working relationships
established at the operational level among the two Secretariats.
The momentum of consultation has received fresh impetus with the
convening of the First ASED back-to-back with the 41st SEAMEO Council
Conference. We have now institutionalised the convening of ASEAN
Education Ministers meetings in conjunction with the annual SEAMEO
Council Conferences. |
Allow
me to also share with the Ministers and delegations present here
today the priorities of the Vientiane Action Programme (VAP) with
regard to education collaboration. The VAP is ASEAN’s blueprint
for action over the next six years, to ensure coordination, implementation,
quality and consistency in our community-building efforts. Endorsed
by ASEAN Leaders at the 10th ASEAN Summit in 2004, it is also an
operational plan that brings together efforts undertaken across
the multi-faceted sectors of ASEAN to realise medium-term goals
to realise the ASEAN Community. |
I
wish to inform the Ministers that the VAP clearly states education
as a priority area of cooperation. ASEAN Leaders have committed
to facilitate universal access to education and promoting high standards
as an integral part of accomplishing the ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community.
In the years to come, we look forward to working together with the
SEAMEO Secretariat to enhance quality education, particularly through
training of teachers. |
Finally,
a critical point reiterated by ASEAN Leaders is the need to foster
dialogue for a deeper understanding of our ASEAN cultures, civilisations
and religions. We are proud of our diversity and proud of harnessing
its strength for the benefit of our peoples. |
I
wish to conclude by expressing the ASEAN Secretariat’s commitment
to working together to assist the Education Ministers bring about
a better quality of life for the ASEAN peoples. The synergy of regional
cooperation in education through ASEAN and SEAMEO shall be an important
feature in realising our vision of a community of caring societies. |
