ASEAN Sub-Committe on Education Mee

[darnott@xxxxxxxxxxx]

ASEAN Sub-Committee on Education Meets in Myanmar

["With regard to Myanmar's efforts in education in recent years,
{Education Minister U Than Aung} said the country has always highly
regarded the sector as a top national priority". I trust the Minister
Gave Guidance to his ASEAN colleagues on how best to tackle
problems in education such as students --  DA]

Xinhua, Rangoon, 26 September 2000. The Sub-Committee on
Education of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)
began it two-day eighth meeting here Monday to work on a plan of
action.

The meeting, hosted by Myanmar for the first time, is attended by
delegates of ten ASEAN member nations, officials of the ASEAN
Secretariat and observers.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Myanmar Education
Minister U Than Aung called for efforts in overcoming moral issue
which he said constituted the root cause of the regional and global
economic and financial crisis in recent years.

He stressed the important role education played in the development
of human resources to bring about moral and spiritual recovery.

He cited the first ASEAN Student Exchange Program in July this year,
saying that it was an evidence of promoting friendship, moral uplifting
and spiritual awakening among the ASEAN youths in many ways.

He hoped that the new project proposals would foster opportunities
to strengthen inter-personal relationships, understanding and
cooperation in areas firmly envisaged in the Hanoi Plan of Action of
1998 and in ASEAN Vision 2020.

With regard to Myanmar's efforts in education in recent years,
he said the country has always highly regarded the sector as a
top national priority.

Since basic education plays a fundamental role, the education
promotion programs at this level have been implemented in three
phases since 1998, he told the meeting.

Relating to international cooperation, he disclosed that Myanmar
plans to further accelerate such cooperation with other ASEAN
member countries and to participate actively in all activities of
ASEAN Universities Network, anticipating that all efforts would
eventually help Myanmar integrate with the ASEAN education
systems.

ASEAN groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,
Myanmar the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.