The 24th Governing Boardmeeting of the Regional Centre for Vocational and Technical Educationunder the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEOVOCTECH) was opened in the northern province of Quang Ninh on October 1.

Hosted by the Vietnamese Ministry of Educationand Training, the meeting aims to review SEAMEO VOCTECH’s operationsover the past time and discuss development directions for the time tocome.

During the three-day event, participants areexpected to exchange views on contents that help member states defineand deal with common issues in vocational education, implementrenovation programmes in research, education, training and expertexchange, as well as organise skills training programmes.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Deputy Minister ofEducation and Training Bui Van Ga said that in its role as the 2013SEAMEO Chair, Vietnam has put forth many action plans and cooperatedactively with others in SEAMEO VOCTECH research programmes.

With its contributions, Vietnam wants SEAMEO VOCTECH to become atrusted address in professional education in the Southeast Asian region,Ga added.

The deputy minister said that toachieve its socio-economic development goals, the Vietnamese Governmentis completing a project to reform its educational system in the contextthat the country has developed the socialist-orientated market economyand promoted international integration.

Established in 1990, Brunei-based SEAMEO VOCTECH aims at boostingvocational cooperation and development among Southeast Asian countries.Its member states include Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia,the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA