Teachers and education personnel are being asked to equip students with competencies they need to become active citizens and workers in the 21st century. Thus the challenge is to strengthen the competencies needed by all teachers and education personnel for effective learning. The Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO) attempts to overcome this challenge by establishing a regional Centre for Quality Improvement of Teacher and Education Personnel (QITEP) in Science.
To provide relevant and quality programs in professional development for science teachers and education personnel through capacity building, research and development, resource sharing, and collaboration.
To be the Centre of excellence in professional development of teachers and education personnel in science towards sustainable development in Southeast Asia.
Professionalism means that every staff performs their job corresponding to their skills and special abilities and using intellectual-based techniques and procedures. Every staff is required to have high integrity, capabilities, discipline, qualified skills and knowledge to implement the Centre’s vision and missions.
At the SEAMEO High Officials Meeting conducted from 19-21 January 2009, almost all SEAMEO Member Countries supported the establishment of the three SEAMEO Centres. Finally, at the 44th SEAMEO Council Conference conducted from 5 – 9 April 2009, the President of SEAMEO Council approved the SEAMEO Regional Centre for QITEP in Science as a new regional SEAMEO Centre.
The Centre was then officially launched by President of the SEAMEO Council and Thai Minister of Education, Mr Jurin Lhaksanawisit, on 13 July 2009.
Southeast Asian Minister of Education Organization (SEAMEO) Regional Centre for Quality Improvement for Teacher and Education Personnel (QITEP) in Science