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34TH SOUTHEAST ASIAN MINISTERS OF EDUCATION COUNCIL CONFERENCE

1. Singapore will be hosting the 34th Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council (SEAMEC) Conference from Sun 7 Feb to Tue 9 Feb. President Ong Teng Cheong will open the Conference on Mon 8 Feb 99. By tradition, Singapore’s Minister for Education RAdm Teo Chee Hean will assume the presidency of Southeast Asian Ministers for Education Organisation (SEAMEO) for one year during the Conference.

2. SEAMEO was formed in 1965 to promote co-operation among the Southeast Asian nations through education, science and culture (See Annex A). It has 10 member countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and six associate member countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands and New Zealand).

3. About 120 participants will attend the Conference. These include Ministers and delegates from member and associate member countries, as well as delegates from the SEAMEO Regional Centres, observer countries/organisations and the Secretariat for SEAMEO.

4. The Singapore delegation will be led by the Senior Minister of State (Education), Dr Aline Wong.

5. The Education Ministers will focus on promoting co-operation through the use of Information Technology and other projects spearheaded by the 11 Regional Centres under SEAMEO. In conjunction with the SEAMEC Conference, the Ministry of Education will also be holding the Educational Technology Conference cum Exhibition 99 (EdTech 99) from 9 Feb to 11 Feb 99. All SEAMEC delegates are invited to attend the Opening Ceremony of EdTech 99.

MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

 

Annex A

BRIEF ON SOUTHEAST ASIAN MINISTERS OF EDUCATION ORGANISATION (SEAMEO)BACKGROUND

SEAMEO was formed in 1965 to promote co-operation among the Southeast Asian nations through education, science and culture. It has 10 member countries (Brunei Darussalam, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam) and six associate member countries (Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands and New Zealand). Myanmar was officially admitted into SEAMEO at the 33rd SEAMEC Conference in Brunei Darussalam in Feb 98.

STRUCTURE OF SEAMEO

Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council (SEAMEC)

The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Council (SEAMEC) is the policy making body of SEAMEO and it meets once a year to formulate policies for SEAMEO. It approves all SEAMEO programmes, budgets and makes all decisions that will bind the Organisation into commitments. The Council’s binding acts are in the form of Council resolutions.

Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Secretariat (SEAMES)

SEAMEO is supported by a Secretariat (SEAMES) which is based in Bangkok, Thailand. SEAMES is headed by a Director, who is the chief administrative officer and legal representative of the Organisation. The current Director is Dr Suparak Racha-Intra, a Thai national. He is supported by professional staff recruited from member countries, and general service staff recruited from Thailand.

SEAMEO Regional Centres

The programmes and activities of SEAMEO are organised and conducted through its Regional Centres. There are 11 Regional Centres under SEAMEO, each specialising in its own areas of competence.

SEAMEC CONFERENCE

The annual SEAMEC Conference is attended by Ministers of Education and officials of Member Countries, representatives of Associate Member Countries, Centre Directors, SEAMES officials and observers from donor governments and international organisations. The hosting of the Conference is rotated among Brunei Darussalam, Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand. Singapore last hosted the Conference in 1993 and will be hosting the 34th SEAMEC Conference in Singapore in 1999.

SEAMEO BIOTROP

REGIONAL CENTRE FOR TROPICAL BIOLOGY

Background

The SEAMEO Regional Centre for Tropical Biology (BIOTROP) was established in 1968 and based in Bogor, Indonesia.

SEAMEO BIOTROP’s main activities focus on Tropical Biology (Forest Biology, Pest Biology and Aquatic Biology). Its role is to assist SEAMEO member countries develop the expertise to identify, prioritise, analyse and recommend solutions or alternative approaches to critical biological problems in the region, especially those related to sustainable eco-development of tropical ecosystems.

SEAMEO BIOTROP collaborates with both national and international organisations in its activities.

Programmes are run on a project basis with three main focus:

	Tropical Ecosystems and Environmental Impacts
	Biodiversity Conservation and Sustainable Development
	Environmental and Forest Biotechnology

SEAMEO INNOTECH

REGIONAL CENTRE FOR EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

Background

 The SEAMEO Regional Centre for Educational Innovation and Technology (INNOTECH) was established on 5 March 1969 and based in the Philippines.

The mission of INNOTECH is to assist SEAMEO Member Countries to identify common or unique educational problems and anticipated needs and to address these problems and needs through relevant programs that encourage innovation and the use of appropriate technology.

The Centre’s training courses are designed to build and strengthen the capabilities of educators in five leadership areas, namely

	Educational Management
	Curriculum and instruction
	Educational Technology
	Educational research and evaluation
	Non-formal education, literacy and community development

SEAMEO RECSAM

REGIONAL CENTRE FOR EDUCATION IN SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS

Background

 The SEAMEO Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics (RECSAM) is based in Penang, Malaysia and established in May 1967.

The Centre is designed to nurture the development of expertise in science, mathematics and technology education in SEAMEO countries. To that end, it aims to endeavor in research, publications, training programmes and other related activities. The main areas covered in the Centre’s training courses are Pedagogy (Science and Mathematics), Computers in Education, Technology Education, Remediation and Enrichment and Action Research.

In addition, international and regional seminars, conferences and workshops are also held to bring together the expertise of resource persons and delegates from different countries.

SEAMEO RELC

REGIONAL LANGUAGE CENTRE

Background

The SEAMEO Regional Language Centre (RELC), established in July 1968, is based in Singapore.

RELC provides SEAMEO member countries with expertise, training facilities and training programmes to upgrate the skills of language specialists and educators. It assists member countries and associate member countries to cooperate in programmes, projects and activities in the interest of the improvement of language education in the region.

RELC offer programmes that focus on knowledge and related disciplines about language, language teaching and learning to persons who are engaged in language research or involved in language pedagogy and language programme administration. There are three types of training courses available, namely, in-house courses, in-country and distance education courses.

The Centre specializes in English Language courses such as Degree of Master of Arts in Applied Linguistics and Diploma in Applied Linguistics. It recently expanded its network to be of direct assistance to language teachers by enlisting top scholars in Applied Linguistics in training courses, research and its annual international seminar. The Centre also provides English courses for teachers from SEAMEO Member Countries and even for government officials.

SEAMEO RETRAC

REGIONAL TRAINING CENTRE

Background

SEAMEO Regional Training Centre (RETRAC) was established on 15 October 1996 and is located in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

RETRAC assists SEAMEO Member Countries, especially the three Indochinese countries (Cambodia, Lao PDR and Vietnam), to identify and solve common problems of human resource development. It offers training courses on Educational Curriculum Development, Teaching Methodology and Technology and Educational Planning and Management as well as Foreign Language Training, Science Technology and Business Application.

RETRAC also collaborates with local, foreign and international organisations and institutes on workshops, training courses and conferences, research and consultations, project development and information dissemination and student exchanges and tours for educational, scientific and cultural purposes.

SEAMEO RIHED

REGIONAL CENTRE FOR HIGHER EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Background

 The SEAMEO Regional Centre for Higher Education and Development (RIHED) was established on 1 July 1994 and based in Thailand.

RIHED plays a crucial role in the capability building of member countries in the field of higher education and responds to the needs on policy and planning, administration and management of higher education. It offers programmes on Higher Education, Management, Higher Education Research and Information and Documentation. Recent concerns of RIHED covered the areas of quality engineering education and economics teaching and training.

SEAMEO SEAMOLEC

REGIONAL OPEN LEARNING CENTRE

Background

 The SEAMEO Regional Open Learning Centre (SEAMOLEC) was established on 27 February 1997 and located in Indonesia.

SEAMOLEC deals with research and development, training, information and technology exchange, sharing expertise and resources within and outside the region in the field of open learning and distance education. It aims to promote and foster open learning and distance education to complement, supplement or substitute conventional classroom instruction. SEAMOLEC also assists SEAMEO member countries in identifying educational problems and finding alternative solutions for sustainable human resource development.

SEAMEO SEARCA

REGIONAL CENTRE FOR GRADUATE STUDY AND RESEARCH IN AGRICULTURE

Background

The SEAMEO Regional Centre for Graduate Study and Research in Agriculture (SEARCA) was established on 27 November 1966 and located on the campus of the University of the Philippines Los Banos in Philippines.

SEARCA serves the agriculture and rural needs of the SEAMEO Member Countries through coordinating and facilitating human resource development, research, and extension in sustainable agriculture and resource management.

The functions of SEARCA are to promote and facilitate high-quality graduate programs and to provide graduate scholarships, fellowships or assistantships for students from member countries. It also conducts research programs related to the needs and pressing problems in Southeast Asia and holds regional seminars on selected agricultural problems and topics.

SEAMEO SPAFA

REGIONAL CENTRE FOR ARCHAEOLOGY AND FINE ARTS

Background

The SEAMEO Regional Centre for Archaeology and Fine Arts (SPAFA) was established on 6 February 1987 and located in Thailand.

The role of SPAFA is to cultivate awareness and appreciation of cultural heritage, to promote and help enrich archaeological and cultural activities in the region, to further professional competence in the fields of archaeology and fine arts and to advance mutual knowledge and understanding among countries of Southeast Asia through regional programmes. The Centre specializes in programmes for Archaeology, Visual Arts and Performing Arts.

SEAMEO TROPMED

REGIONAL TROPICAL MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH NETWORK

Background

The SEAMEO Regional Tropical Medicine and Public Health Network (TROPMED) comprises of four regional centres in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Thailand.

The TROPMED Regional Centre for Community Nutrition is located in Jakarta, Indonesia and has provided training and research in nutrition since 1970. It trains nutritionists, health professionals and personnel from other nutrition-related disciplines in planning, executing and evaluating nutrition policies and interventions.

The TROPMED Regional Centre for Microbiology, Parasitology and Entomology is based in Malaysia and conducts research for the prevention and control of diseases and other pertinent health issues. It provides specialized training, diagnostic, consultative and advisory services and supports the management of health as a collective responsibility of government, the private sector, non-government organisations, the community and individuals.

The University of the Philippines College of Public Health serves as the TROPMED Regional Centre for Public Health in the fields of public health, rural medicine, hospital administration, environmental and occupational health, health policy and management.

The TROPMED Regional Centre for Tropical Medicine is hosted by the Faculty of Tropical Medicine, Mahidol University under the Ministry of University Affairs Thailand. The Centre offers training on endemic tropical diseases, parasitology, community and preventive medicine with special emphasis on Thailand and other Southeast Asian countries. It also conducts research leading to innovations on alternative control measures of diseases and the promotion of healthy lifestyles. The Centre also provides clinical care to patients suffering from tropical diseases.

SEAMEO VOCTECH

REGIONAL CENTRE FOR VOCATIONAL AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION

Background

 The SEAMEO Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Education (VOCTECH) was established on 28 August 1990 and based in Brunei Darussalam.

The role of VOCTECH is to improve the management of vocational and technical education and training in SEAMEO member countries. It strives to develop and deliver relevant programmes in vocational and technical education and training to meet the local, national and regional needs in socio-economic, industrial, business and labour markets.

In addition, the Centre also does assessment of staff development needs for regional and private sectors and collect and disseminate information and resource materials. It is also engaged in staff exchanges, educational resource development, training, research and consultancy in project development and management with SEAMEO member countries and associate member countries.