MOE Mobilizes ASEAN Community Project

(17-04-2013)

The Assistant to the Minister of Education, Mrs. Phuangphet Chunlaiad, chaired a board meeting in preparation for the ASEAN Community of the Ministry of Education at the Ministry of Education on 2 April 2013.

Mrs. Phuangphet said that, according to the ministerial order, the board consisted of two committees. The first one is an administration committee chaired by the Education Minister whereas the second is an operational committee chaired by the Assistant to the Minister.

Mrs. Phuangphet added that the operational committee she was chairing has seven tasks to complete. The first one concerns learning English and the languages of neighboring countries which falls under the responsibility of the Office of the Basic Education Commission (OBEC) and the English Language Institute. The second one is creating basic knowledge about ASEAN which is also the responsibility of OBEC. The third one is formulating educational standard frameworks and national qualification frameworks which is the responsibility of the Office of the Education Council (OEC). The fourth one is the adjustment of flexible regulations which falls under the responsibility of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Education and the Office of the Private Education Commission. The fifth one is the preparation for labor mobility which is the responsibility of the Office of the Higher Education Commission and the Office of the Vocational Education Commission. The sixth one is the arranging of meetings of the ASEAN countries which is the responsibility of the Deputy Permanent Secretary of Education on Foreign Affairs. The last task is providing public relations for ASEAN projects which is the responsibility of the Office of the Permanent Secretary of Education.

Mrs. Phuangphet added that campaigning for English learning relied on national awareness. She then proposed the project, "Speak English Now", to motivate Thai people to learn and practice English more. In addition, the Ministry of Education and the Woman Development Fund are organizing English training for Thai women. All the activities will enable Thai people to learn English communication in preparation for the ASEAN Community.

"Vocational colleges have to coordinate with ministries and private sectors in Thailand in order to survey their labor needs so that they can prepare appropriate human resources for the ASEAN labor market," emphasized Mrs. Phuangphet.