Speech by H.E. Dr. Im Koch,

Secretary of State for Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport

at the Opening Ceremony of the ASEAN Debsirin Knowledge Camp 2016

on January 29, 2017

Good morning!

Respected:

• Excellency,
• Ambassadors,
• Prof. Dr. Chira Hongladarom
• Students, Ladies and Gentlemen!

On behalf of Dr Hang Chuonnaron, Minister of Education Youth and Sport, I would like to express my sincere thanks to the Foundation for International Human Resources Development (FIHRD),Chira Academy, Debsirin Samutprakun School for supporting, and making this very important event happen for our youth to meet tosee, to learn, to think, to act, to shareand to comment in the way to become the global citizen with the slogan "Think globally, act locally" for a Peaceful World.

The Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport is on the process of establishing the system of New Generation Schools (NGS) for providing the 4Cs in Education that stands for: communication, collaboration, critical thinking and creativity to youths. In order to develop in them the soft skills that is really in need. We believe that without soft skills the students will be difficult to get appropriate jobs. Moreover, when our youths become leaders in the future,they need to contribute to the development of the economy, society and politic.

To develop the four skills, they can create blogs or websites which they can post updates about their findings and their thoughts. Regarding collaboration, the youths have to work together to achieve the goals. For critical thinking, they have to look into the problems with new ways as solutions across subjects. And in creativity, they have toresearch and then to solve the problems via innovation and invention.Internship in the firms or industries as well as volunteer works in the society through community services is an essential means to develop soft skills especially special skills and transversal skills amongst youths.

I would also like to thank Prof. Dr. Chira Hongladarom, who has created the opportunity for youths to participate in this ASEAN Debsirin Knowledge Camp 2016.

I hope this event will contribute to enabling our youths with good education to become good global citizens in the future.

I wish you all with the four gems of Buddhist blessing: Longevity, Nobility, Health and Strength.

Thank You!