Minister of Education, Thailand and SEAMEO Secretariat launch SEAMEO Smart Classroom in Thailand-Cambodia border school

Wednesday, 21 December 2022 | Phichaya Sakcharoen

 

On 22 August 2022, H E Ms Treenuch Thienthong, Minister of Education, Thailand and Dr Ethel Agnes Pascua-Valenzuela, Director of SEAMEO Secretariat, launched SEAMEO Smart Classroom, under the SEAMEO Border School Quality Inclusive Education Project (BSQIEP), in Bankhaotangok School in Khlong Hat district, Sa Kaeo province.

The opening ceremony was also attended by Dr Suthep Kangsanthia, Secretary-General of the Office of the Vocational Education Commission, Acting Sub Lt. Thanu Wongjinda, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of the Basic Education Commission, Dr Pichet Pothipakdee, Inspector General for Education, Dr Wanpen Burisoongnern, Deputy Director of the Regional Education Office 6, representatives from the Bureau of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education, Thailand, and Sa Kaeo Provincial Education Office.

In her remarks, H E Ms Treenuch extended her gratitude towards SEAMEO Secretariat for supporting quality and inclusive education in Thai border schools, suggesting that SEAMEO BSQIEP intertwines with Thai government’s “No One Left Behind” Policy. Likewise, Dr Ethel, in her message, highlighted SEAMEO’s appreciation towards MOE Thailand for the cooperation and support in the past decade, and further emphasized on the shared value of the two parties, in which she stated;

SEAMEO Secretariat and MOE Thailand recognise the need to accelerate efforts in providing inclusive and equitable quality education for all, especially as we address the impacts of COVID-19 and as we enter the post-pandemic world. This is also in line with the priority area with the SEAMEO Education Agenda which is addressing barriers to inclusion.”

 

 

SEAMEO Secretariat has conducted several field visits to border schools in Thailand with the support from the Ministry of Education, Thailand, and SEAMEO Regional Centres since 2018. The project aims to reach out to educators and learners in border schools to have an accessible and quality education. SEAMEO Smart Classroom Implementations were carried out in 3 schools in Thailand, namely Sikai Wittayakom School in Nong Khai, Thailand-Lao PDR border, Bankhaotangok School and Bankhlongkaithuan School in Sa Kaeo, Thailand-Cambodia border, and 1 school in Cambodia which is Romeas Heak High School in Svay Rieng, Cambodia-Vietnam border. For future action, SEAMEO Secretariat aims to explore more areas of collaboration with schools and communities in shared border with Malaysia and Myanmar.