1.     The ASEAN Student Exchange Programme (ASEP) is held in Singapore from 29 June to 12 July 2001. Hosted by the Ministry of Education, it is one of the educational programmes under the Initiative for ASEAN launched by the ASEAN Leaders at the 4th ASEAN Informal Summit in Singapore in November 2000.

2.     The ASEP aims to bring together students from ASEAN countries to cultivate understanding, co-operation and networking, and to promote understanding of the different cultures within ASEAN. It is open to students between the ages of 14 to 16 from the ASEAN countries. A total of 51 students and 16 teacher chaperons from Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam are participating in the 2-week programme. Each ASEAN student is paired with a Singaporean student who acts as his/her buddy throughout his/her stay in Singapore.

3.     Dr Aline Wong, Senior Minister of State for Education, is Guest-of-Honour at the opening ceremony on 30 June 2001. The 2-week programme starts with a 4-day camp at the MOE Labrador Adventure Centre.

4.     During the next two weeks, schools will be playing host to the ASEAN students to provide them with first-hand experience of the culture of Singapore schools. The ASEAN students will also be staying in Singaporean homes and visiting places of interest to help them learn more about Singapore and our way of life. There will be opportunities for the ASEAN students to showcase their talents and culture, through an exhibition and cultural performance at the farewell dinner on 11 July 2001.