02302

14 June 2002

Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence,
RADM (NS) Teo Chee Hean,
to Attend Opening Ceremony of 3rd Youth Camp in Thailand

1.        Minister for Education and Second Minister for Defence, RADM (NS) Teo Chee Hean, will be attending the opening ceremony of the 3rd Youth Camp in Saraburi Province, Thailand, on 16 June 2002. The Youth Camp is one of the education collaborations under the Singapore-Thailand Civil Service Exchange Programme (CSEP). CSEP is a platform for bilateral collaborations and exchanges between the civil services of the two countries and for promoting continuity in bilateral relations. It is one of the pillars under the Singapore-Thailand Enhanced Partnership (STEP) launched by Prime Ministers of Thailand and Singapore in June 1997.

2.        The Youth Camp is a regular activity of the partner schools in Singapore and Thailand. 8 secondary schools and 2 primary schools in Singapore are partnering with schools in Thailand to carry out various joint activities including exchanges of visits and sharing of information. The first camp was held in Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand, in January 1999 and the second camp in Singapore in June 2000.

3.        About 200 students and teachers from schools in Singapore and Thailand will participate in the 3rd Youth Camp in Saraburi Province from 16 to 22 June 2002. The Education Ministers of Singapore and Thailand will attend the opening ceremony of the camp on 16 Jun 2002. Participating students from Singapore and Thailand will engage in a wide variety of activities during the 7-day camp, including team-building games, visits to national parks and historical sites, and homestay.