THAI EDUCATION OFFICIALS PREPARE FOR TEACHEXCELS

Officials from the National Institute for the Development of Teachers, Faculty and Staff and Education Personnel (NIDTEP) in Thailand participated in a capacity building program on Teaching and Learning Excellence in School Leadership for Southeast Asia (TEACHeXCELS) conducted by SEAMEO INNOTECH from September 9 to 15, 2010. The weeklong activity is part of the knowledge and technology transfer agreement on the eXCELS program between the Center and the Ministry of Education (MOE) in Thailand through the Office of the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Chinnapat Bhumirat.

Since implementing the ICeXCELS program in 2009, NIDTEP has graduated close to a hundred Thai learners, divided into two batches. For the next batch, NIDTEP already set its eyes on starting their ICeXCELS graduates on the more advanced eXCELS programs, like TEACHeXCELS.

The training provided by SEAMEO INNOTECH to NIDTEP’s shadow tutors aimed to build their capacities in e-moderation and flexible learning tutoring skills. It also enabled them to identify their roles and responsibilities under the TEACheXCELS program. At the end of the training, a draft action plan was prepared for the implementation and management of the Thai version of TEACHeXCELS.

TEACHeXCELS aims to follow through the gains from ICeXCELS by developing and strengthening the capacities of school managers and administrators to manage the teaching and learning processes in the school.