Germany funds SEAMEO's Fit For School Program

BANGKOK, November 14 (TNA) - The German government and the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) have signed "the exchange of notes" to jointly promote and implement the Regional Programme "Fit for School", aimed to improve the health and education of pre-and primary school children in Southeast Asia. The signing ceremomy of the agreement was held at the German Ambassador’s Residence in Bangkok on Friday, witnessed by members of international media, including Thai News Agency (TNA). Presiding over the ceremony, H.E. Dr. Phankham Viphavanh, Minister of Education of SEAMEO, emphasized the importance of developing regional students in all aspects in order that they become higher quality world citizen in the future. Under the Fit For School Program, the Federal Republic of Germany, as an associate member of SEAMEO since 1990, agrees to provide a total budget of 11.9 million euro (about 500 million baht) to sponsor the regional program in order to meet the objectives through introducing a regionally-coordinated improvement of sanitation facilities and institutionalizing hygiene practice, like handwashing and toothbrushing, into daily schedule of school activities and regular school-based deworming programs. The Philippines-based SEAMEO Regional Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology (SEAMEO INNOTECH) is expected to cooperate closely with the Germman government's Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in carrying on the regional program in the future. The Fit For School Program was first implemented in the Philippines in 2008, when moves to promote healthy habits in healthy learning environments were kicked off, allowing Philippine children to have quality education and good health. The program has been then expanded to other member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Germany and SEAMEO have shared the same interest in introducing and implementing more effective approaches on improving the health of children in ASEAN, including those in Laos, Cambodia and The Philippines. The German government has supported SEAMEO in many fields through its agencies, including GIZ and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). (TNA)