Asean Agrees to Expand Cooperation In Education, Push for Regional Studies

The Jakarta Globe

Hua Hin, Thailand. Leaders from the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations decided during the 15th Asean Summit here over the weekend to increase cooperation in the field of education.

During the summit’s close on Sunday, the leaders agreed to strengthen political, economic and sociocultural cooperation across the region by 2015.

According to the agreement, enhancing educational ties among Southeast Asian countries is aimed at improving the region’s human resources for competition both at a regional and global level.

Stepping up the quality of education and upgrading teaching standards were put forward as major issues for the Asean leaders to address, and would serve as a common benchmark for the respective countries.

The leaders also committed to ensuring greater mobility for students and teachers in the region, particularly through cultural exchanges, in order to promote mutual understanding between neighboring countries.

During the summit, members expressed their readiness to push more regional studies in their countries and to establish a convention on educational research to serve as a framework for new cooperation in the field.

Plans were also announced to observe the anniversary of Asean’s founding on Aug. 8, and to introduce the history of the regional organization as well as its latest developments to students. The Asean Charter, as the blueprint of the regional community, would be included in school curricula, as would the principles of democracy, peace and human rights.

The Southeast Asian leaders are now considering creating a special fund to help develop education in the region.

Antara