SEOUL, 23 April 2015 – Twenty public school teachers from the Philippines' national capital region (NCR) were welcomed on Thursday, 23 April 2015 at the 2015 Asia-Pacific Teacher Exchange for Global Education (APTE) program with 10 other teachers from Mongolia by their Korean host schools for the fourth straight time since the program was initiated in 2012.

The South Korea-based Asia Pacific Center of Education for International Understanding (APCEIU) held a launching ceremony for the 2015 APTE at its headquarters in Seoul's southwestern district of Guro-gu, inviting Philippine Ambassador to Korea Raul S. Hernandez and education ministry officials from South Korea, the Philippines and Mongolia.

밪ince its inception, 180 teachers from the Philippines and 200 from Mongolia have participated in this worthwhile event. I am pleased say that these two countries have become the exemplary model for the rest of the participating countries", said APCEIU Director Chung Utak in his welcoming speech.

Ambassador Hernandez delivered congratulatory remarks before the principals and educators from Korean host schools, Korea's Ministry of Education Supervisor Suh Dong-ho, Director Narantuya Tuya of the Mongolian Ministry of Education, Culture and Science and NCR Curriculum Chief Victoria Mayo of the Philippine Department of Education (DepEd).

I am confident that in the three months of training and interaction with Korean educators, our exchange teachers will be able to infect not only their young wards but also their colleagues with the happy Filipino spirit and at the same time, pick up from schools the discipline and zeal for excellence South Korean schools are famous for.", Ambassador Hernandez said.

밫hrough this program, we continue to renew our commitment to quality education, having a very important role in strengthening democracy, in increasing productivity and in building our nations," he said in conclusion.

Established in 2012 with Korea's Ministry of Education (MOE), the APTE aims to enhance the global educational competence of participating teachers and schools from the Asia-Pacific region through long and short-term exchange training programs and to promote global education while facilitating the enhancement of intercultural literacy of Korean educators.

The 18 elementary school (ES) and two high school (HS) teachers are affiliated in the following schools in Metro Manila: Zapote ES, Pamplona ES, Baclaran ES, Santolan ES, P. Gomez ES, P. Yabut ES, Nangka ES, San Dionisio ES, Parada ES, Pinaglabanan ES, Ilaya ES, Barangka ES, Cupang ES, San Dionisio ES, Moises Salvador ES and Marikina HS and Rizal HS.

Prior to their dispatch to 10 Korean schools to teach their subject areas and Filipino culture until their departure on 11 July 2015, the Filipino and Mongolian teachers attended a three-day local adjustment training conducted by the APCEIU, to enable them to have a deep exposure not only to Korean culture but also to the rich cultural diversity of the Asia Pacific region.

During the launching ceremonies, the delegation from the two countries, entertained the audience with their cultural performances. Donned in colorful traditional costumes, the Filipino teachers presented a medley of three folk dances originated from the Luzon region: La Kuratsa, 밪ubli� and 밚a Jota Moncadeña.

Established in 2000 by an agreement between the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Government of the Republic of Korea, APCEIU has tasked itself to fulfill UNESCO's mandate through various programs, such as Education for International Understanding and Global Citizenship Education.

The APTE program in particular has served to enhance the competence of participating teachers and schools in the five participating countries, including the Philippines and Mongolia, in responding to the challenges of globalization and the transition to multicultural societies.

Since the beginning, some 137 exchange teachers from the Philippines have taken part in three batches in this annual program.

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