ASEAN Learning Centre opens in Bangkok

BANGKOK, February 19 (TNA) - A private school in Bangkok has launched Thailand’s first ASEAN Learning Centre, with an aim to motivate students and teachers alike, to learn more about the ASEAN region and its member states. Jindapong School, which teaches classes from pre-kindergarten to prathom 6 (Grade 6) students, launched the first ASEAN Learning Centre in Thailand at the school with the theme, “The Perfect Model of an ASEAN Classroom” Tuesday morning. Prior to the inauguration ceremony of the learning centre, the school organised special performances by students and kindergarteners for guests. The opening ceremony was then presided over by Director of the Bangkok Primary Educational Service Area Somyos Siriban, during which he also gave a speech thanking the Jindapong School for its effort in creating the centre. According to the school’s Director Jinda Tantarajin, the centre was created to encourage and motivate teachers and students to learn more about ASEAN, provide a knowledge source on ASEAN in preparation for the ASEAN integration in less than three years’ time, as well as to represent the school’s 25th anniversary of its founding. The ASEAN Learning Centre offers basic information of each ASEAN member state; books on different themes of ASEAN countries are shelved along with dolls wearing each country’s traditional dresses. Bank notes of the 10 member states were also displayed, giving the children the knowledge and familiarity of how each of the currency and its bank notes look like. Moreover, the school used cartoon characters to help brighten the mood and engage students in learning about ASEAN and each country’s greetings. Flags of the 10 member countries of ASEAN were displayed in the centre as well. The school also hopes that the ASEAN learning centre would promote the love of Thailand among students, while ensuring that its students are at the same pace with other students of ASEAN on their knowledge about the region. (TNA)