ASEAN talks of sustainable education development amid economic crisis

VGP – Teachers from all ASEAN member countries gathered in Hà Nội today for the opening ceremony of the 25th ASEAN Council of Teachers convention to deliberate on ways to develop sustainable education amid the global financial crisis and economic downturn.

December 11, 2009 3:10 PM GMT+7

Vietnamese Deputy PM, Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Thiện Nhân makes a welcoming speech to the 25^th ASEAN Council of Teachers Convention themed ASEAN Council of Teachers Responses to the Economic Crisis for the Sustainable Development of Education, Hà Nội, December 11, 2009 – Photo: VGP

Vietnamese Deputy PM, Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Thiện Nhân and representatives from 13 international organizations also took part in the event.

Praising the theme “ASEAN Council of Teachers response to the economic crisis for sustainable development of education,” Deputy PM Nhân said that the Vietnamese Government sees the topic as hot news.

Participants expect to discuss in groups issues relating to teaching-learning standards at different educational levels as well as material life of educational staff.

How the current global economic downturn affects educational staff’s life will also put on the table as a key topic.

Việt Nam always considers education as its top national policy, stresses Deputy PM, Minister of Education and Training Nguyễn Thiện Nhân at the 25^th

ASEAN Council of Teachers Convention, Hà Nội, December 11, 2009 – Photo: VGP

Education, far in the past, was considered the top national policy of Việt Nam and other ASEAN member countries as well.

Deputy PM Nhân said that the Government of Việt Nam is determined to cooperate with ASEAN members to promote the block’s education standards and Việt Nam would prove its active role as the President of ASEAN next year in cementing education linkages within ASEAN.

The convention is scheduled to last on December 11-12. The previous convention was held in Thailand.

By Hải Minh