Singapore Government Press Release
Media Division, Ministry of Information and The Arts,
MITA Building, 140 Hill Street, 2^nd Storey, Singapore 179369
Tel: 837-9666

Good Morning

Excellencies,

Distinguished Guests,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Boys and Girls,

1. Last November, the ASEAN Heads of Government had a fruitful meeting at the 4th ASEAN Informal Summit in Singapore. One significant outcome of the meeting was the launch of the Initiative for ASEAN Integration (IAI) by the Heads of Government.
2. The IAI provides a framework for regional co-operation. Focusing on education, skills development and worker training, the IAI aims to enhance various forms of exchanges among ASEAN countries and promote regional integration and development.

 

Human Resource Development – Building Capabilities for the Future

3. Singapore is pleased to contribute to the IAI by offering technical assistance and training programmes to our ASEAN neighbours, in particular, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam, to facilitate the integration of these newer members into ASEAN. We focus on human resource development because we strongly believe that developing our people holds the key to building our future.
4. Singapore’s Trade Development Board will be studying the needs in vocational training programmes in these countries, and providing consultants and researchers in areas like trade development, food business, technical training and tourism. The Ministry of Education will also be offering two programmes under the IAI. These are the Education Train-the-Trainers Programme and the ASEAN Student Exchange Programme.

Education Train-the-Trainers Programme

5. The Education Train-the-Trainers Programme is intended to help teachers continuously upgrade their skills and practices to meet the challenges of the new knowledge-based economy.
6. From July this year, up to 60 teachers and trainers from Cambodia, Lao PDR, Myanmar and Vietnam will come to Singapore annually for attachments with educational institutions here, where they will observe teaching practices and develop teaching curriculum. Each attachment could range from a week to a month. When the teachers return to their home countries, they could share the teaching practices and materials with other teachers and trainers. I am pleased to note the strong support and healthy response we have received for the attachments to educational institutions.

ASEAN Student Exchange Programme

7. The other educational programme under the IAI is the ASEAN Student Exchange Programme. Its objectives are to cultivate understanding, co-operation and networking among students of ASEAN. The first Exchange Programme was held in Malaysia in 2000. This year, students will have the opportunity again to come together to learn more about the different cultures in ASEAN. A variety of educational and interesting activities have been lined up for the 120 participants over the next two weeks. Many challenging team-building activities await you over the next three days in this camp. You will also have opportunities to experience what school life in Singapore is like during your attachments to our schools and participation in the activities in school. In addition, there will be many chances for you to know more about life in Singapore when you stay over at your buddy’s home.
8. For the teacher chaperons, the programme includes a visit to the Ministry of Education and other educational institutions such as our polytechnics and National Institute of Education. These visits will provide you with opportunities to interact and exchange ideas with educators in Singapore.
9. We hope that all our student and teacher participants will find the ASEAN Student Exchange Programme interesting and rewarding, and that the friendships formed during these two weeks will continue after you return to your own countries.
10. We also hope that other ASEAN countries will take turns to host the ASEAN Student Exchange Programme in subsequent years, so that our young can develop a better appreciation of each other’s countries in this region. This will contribute in some measure towards ASEAN integration.

Conclusion

11. I would like to take the opportunity to thank the embassies and missions of the ASEAN countries for their support of the ASEAN Student Exchange Programme. In closing, I wish all participants an enjoyable and fruitful time in Singapore.
12. Thank you.