1. Education is the ticket to better future for our younger generation. Schools play the major part of educating our children. Schools are therefore a critical institution to lead and coach students to reach their highest potential in the classroom and in life.
2. Our younger generation should prepare themselves to be competitive beyond their local scale. Schools have a critical role to play and hard work to do, especially if one aims to create world-class graduates.
3. In constantly evolving global landscape, educational leaders must have foresight in anticipating future challenges and opportunities. Revolutionary information technology, economic liberalisation and integration and mobility of people have made our world interconnected in ways that force us to challenge our own approaches in many areas and be open for new adjustments, including in education.
4. Forty years after its establishment in 1967, ASEAN has changed significantly. ASEAN is heading towards realising the vision of one Community by 2015 that stands on three pillars of economic cooperation, political and security cooperation and socio-cultural cooperation. The vision is that all Member Countries would live in peace, stability and prosperity, bonded together in partnership in dynamic development and in a community of caring societies. ASEAN is drafting a Charter to pursue this vision. This community building is a serious task for ASEAN to undertake. Homework has to be done by all ASEAN Member Countries individually and regionally. Schools play an important role in shaping ASEAN’s future as education is vital to sustain our regional economic development, political stability and social cohesion.
5. In eight years from now, ASEAN’s economy is envisaged to be a single market and production base with a free flow of goods, services, investment, skilled labour and a freer flow of capital. While ASEAN is making possible for its Member Countries to be more attractive to investors, we should ensure that ASEAN peoples are prepared for the impact of economic integration. We need to promote activities for re-training and continuing education to enhance the adaptability and mobility of our labour force.  Lifelong learning must be a part of ASEAN’s strategy to remain competitive and to ensure employability.
6. Competition is wider in scope and tougher with each passing month.  ASEAN would need to meet the increasing market demand for qualified human resources. In becoming or remaining as the leading at national, regional or even worldwide level, schools should have clear and mega visions and be adaptive to the new market needs and opportunities. Educational leaders in our region should think ASEAN in their vision and strategies. Promoting quality education and market-relevant skills is the key towards building  competitive human resources. 
7. The establishment of the ASEAN Community is just the beginning of ASEAN’s new chapter. We may not know for sure how our future challenges would be like, but those would no doubt be more complex than what ASEAN is facing now. Regional concerns can no longer be confined by national borders or effectively addressed by single-sectoral strategies. Economic concerns are interlocked with social and political concerns. Issues such as poverty, illegal migration, transnational crime, environmental pollution, emerging infectious diseases need effective cross-sectoral solutions. Out-of-the-box approaches should be explored.
8. This responsibility would be on the shoulders of our younger generation. Our governments, communities and schools in the region should join hands in preparing the next generation to be well equipped in carrying ASEAN’s future on their shoulders. Schools indeed play a key role in unlocking the potential of our younger generation, developing their intellect and critical thinking, nurturing their creativity and aspirations, building their values of caring and sharing and a greater sense of “ASEAN-ness”. Hence, some traditional educational approaches may have to be revisited and re-conceptualised to brace the new landscape of globalisation and ASEAN economic integration. Some pedagogical approaches may need to be shifted, ICT may need to be part of teaching methods and curriculum may need to be readjusted to create quality graduates who are ASEAN-minded, technologically friendly and culturally aware.
9. Efforts to narrow the development gap in ASEAN have been carried out over the years. The IAI (Initiative for ASEAN Integration) was formally launched in Singapore in 2000.  Yet, disparities in educational development in the region are still there. According to the 2006 ASEAN Statistical Yearbook, the adult literacy rate of males and females in ASEAN in 2004 ranged from 99.15% (Brunei Darussalam) down to 70.15% (Cambodia) with lower rates in CLMV Countries. As per the 2006 ASEAN Baseline Data (Preliminary Study), the combined gross enrollment rate for primary, secondary and tertiary levels in 2003 ranged from 87.40% (Singapore) down to 60.90% (Indonesia). Limited resources and stage of socio-economic development are the main reasons. The establishment of the ASEAN Community has forced the less developed countries to do a lot of catching up to compete at regional level. The challenges are more enormous for these countries. The development of human resources is a key strategy for alleviating poverty and socio-economic disparities, employment generation and ensuring economic growth with equity. Education indeed opens new windows for better opportunities. Therefore, we all should take part in facilitating universal access to education and promoting its high standards in the region.
10. Becoming the leading schools in an interconnected world should not be seen as an end goal but as a new role to lead and support other schools in developing their quality. Taking into consideration the different stages of educational development in ASEAN, educational leaders need to answer these questions: which way to go for schools in less developed countries in terms of educational innovations and leadership considering that resources are limited? What are the effective leadership strategies for schools in diverse settings of ASEAN Member Countries to achieve academic excellence and be regionally competitive?
11. I believe that this APS Global Education Conference is an excellent opportunity for school leaders, academics and professionals to exchange views and explore new ideas on the ways and means to improve quality of and access to schools. In conclusion, allow me to share with you the five essential “SMART” ingredients to become a leading school in this interconnected world:

• Student-oriented – helping students to discover and nurture their own aspirations, creativity and potential are the focus of the schools; 
• Mega-centric – schools are to strive for producing qualified graduates not only at national level, but even at regional or international level;   
• Affordable – education should be available to all at affordable cost to support universal access to education;
• Revolutionary – schools should be responsive to the market needs and be open to completely different ways in innovations and teaching method and innovating for better outcomes;  
• Technology friendly – graduates are equipped with sufficient skills to harness new technologies affecting their life and work.

I wish you all fruitful discussions. Thank you.