Lao senior education team on study visit to Thailand

BANGKOK, September 29 (TNA) - A delegation of senior Lao education officials, led by Deputy Education and Sports Minister Dr. Lytou Buapao, is on a study visit to Thailand, during which the team will learn on Thailand's education-oriented information and communications technology (ICT). The visiting Lao delegation received a warm welcome from Thai Deputy Education Minister Krissanapong Kirtikara in Bangkok on Monday morning. Krissanapong said that Thailand is willing to share experiences gained over the past three decades in technological application for educational development with Laos. Krissanapong told the Lao delegation that Thailand's application of ICT into education focuses on not only the knowledge development, but also morality of students. Krissanapong promised that the Thai government will encourage the private sector to initiate education support projects in Laos, while inviting Lao educational authorities to academic conferences in Thailand, their schedules of which will be then announced on his ministry's authorized websites. The visiting Lao deputy education minister expressed his gratitude for the warm welcome and stated he is ready to support mutual assistance and exchange with Thailand to help promote the formation of the ASEAN Community (AC) by the end of 2015. According to the visiting Lao deputy education minister, Laos is reforming national educational systems to meet the ASEAN standard. Meanwhile, relevant Thai authorities presented the ICT application for public education to the Lao delegation, concerning formal and informal education and satellite-based teaching. The Thai authorities also presented a master plan for area-based educational improvement, which the Thai public and private sectors will jointly conduct. The Lao delegation's ongoing visit to Thailand is also aimed to ensure bilateral cooperation for both neighboring countries' smooth participation in the ASEAN Community. (TNA)