ASEAN LEADERS TO EXPAND EDUCATIONAL COOPERATION

Hua Hin, Thailand, Oct 25 (ANTARA) - Leaders of ASEAN countries has decided to increase cooperation in education at the 15th ASEAN Summit held in Hua Hin, Thailand, on October 23-25, 2009.

The cooperation agreement will be signed by the leaders of the ten ASEAN member countries at the summit's closing ceremony on Sunday.

Strengthening the educational cooperation among the ASEAN members is vital to preparations for the ASEAN community in 2015 which will be based on three pillars, namely security of the political community, economic community, and socio-cultural community.

The enhancement of the educational cooperation among ASEAN countries countries is intended to improve the quality of human resources for competition both at regional and global level.

Therefore, ASEAN leaders had been urged to step up educational competency in their respective countries as well as upgrading the standard of their teachers. All these efforts may serve as a common reference for ASEAN to a better quality education.

At the 15th ASEAN Summit, the member countries had also expressed readiness to establish a research convention on education. The result will serve as a basic framework for new cooperation in the sector.

The Asean member countries had also made a commitment to ensure greater mobility for students in the region and their deeper understanding about ASEAN and its members.

School curricula must include the ASEAN Charter as blueprint of the ASEAN Community. The school curriculum must also be based on principles of democracy, peace and human rights.
Students and their teachers may also reach a mutual understanding and conduct exchange of knowledge about the culture of each of their countries.

The summit also announced a plan to observe ASEAN's founding anniversary every August 8, and introduce the history of the regional organization as well as its latest developments to the students.

ASEAN leaders are now considering to form a special fund for the development of education in the region.