Thailand passes baton in regional education leadership

By Pratch Rujivanarom 
The Nation 
Jakarta

 

 

JAKARTA: -- Thailand on Tuesday completed its two-year term heading the Southeast Asia Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO) Council, passing the reins to Indonesia at the group’s 49th conference, being held in Jakarta.
 

Thai Education Minister Dr Teerakiat Jareonsettasin formally handed over the SEAMEO presidency to his Indonesian counterpart, declaring that the group provides Southeast Asian countries the chance to strive for regional unity through education.

 

Since its establishment in 1965, SEAMEO, counting all 10 Southeast Asian nations as members, has been the central platform for educational cooperation in the region. The council presidency is assumed by their education ministers on a rotating two-year basis.

 

“Indonesia is the biggest country in the region and it’s like the ‘big brother’ for us all,” Teerakiat said. “We look forward to working closely with Indonesia in the future to improve our education system.”

 

He noted that Southeast Asia is diverse in terms of culture, language and religion, but said unity is achievable through education and by taking a strong stand on the principle of “unity in diversity”.

 

“The aim of SEAMEO and our main challenge is to tackle the disparity and inequality issue in education and ensure that we provide quality education for all, as per the goal of sustainable development,” Teerakiat said.

 

Indonesian Education Minister Muhadjir Effendy vowed that SEAMEO efforts on sustainable development via education would continue with the aim of ensuring better livelihoods for everyone.

 

“We have a plan to secure quality education for all people and to promote lifelong education,” he said. “Indonesia pledges to provide full support to the SEAMEO mission to create a better future for everyone in the region via education.”

 

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/detail/national/30321724

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2017-07-25

I see. They don't have a village idiot around here, they must take it in turns?

 

I don't think I would trust any of these people with the future of education, especially as they seemingly can't even get the sign behind them right, if it's SEAMEO why does it say SEAMEC ?? Or maybe SEAMEC is something completely different!

surprised they even know what a  baton is with their education system in Thailand

13 hours ago, ben2talk said:

I see. They don't have a village idiot around here, they must take it in turns?

 

plenty going spare in the  village next to me if  they are short

any different from passing the buck? funding is ok for thai education as a % of GDP so why is it so bad? i would have liked to keep living in thailand but international schools for the kids were just too expensive. felt like i was getting ripped off paying lots of tax and then being hit again paying for education.

Edited July 26, 20179 yr by williamgeorgeallen

It seems like Thailand is seriously lacking behind in language skills. They want closer connections to China but very few speak their language. English is being thaught in school yet very few speak basic English. 

Education is also about questioning. Thais don't attach to subjects like this. They are uncomfortable. So would the junta. 

 

Humanitarian subjects and the arts would help develop the cultural aspects and improve social structure, but also promote dialogue that may upset the current status quo.

 

For some education becomes empowering. So in effect the promotion of education is a bad thing for the junta. 

 

Most of what is shown is window dressing.