SINGAPORE and Thailand will expand cooperation in the areas of vocational and technical education, teaching of mathematics and science, and the use of information and communication technology (ICT).

Singapore's Education Minister Ng Eng Hen and his Thai counter part Somchai Wongsawat on Wednesday reaffirmed their commitment to these new areas of cooperation under the Civil Service Exchange Programme (CSEP).

Mr Somchai, who is also Thailand's Deputy Prime Minister, is on a two-day official visit here, which ended on Wednesday.

This is the first meeting between the two Education Ministers.

At last month's CSEP coordinating meeting in Bangkok, Singapore and Thailand agreed to increase the number of partner schools from 10 to 15 pairs, and to continue supporting ongoing initiatives such as annual student camps, exchange of teachers, scholarships and school visits.

While in Singapore, Mr Somchai also visited the National Institute of Education, Institute of Technical Education College East and Jurong Secondary School, to observe their application of ICT in education.