WOLLONGONG DIRECTOR OF CATHOLIC EDUCATION VISITS

Director of Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong addressing faculty members led by Dr. Methi P., Dean, Faculty of Education.

Mr. Gregory B. Whitby, Director of Catholic Education, Diocese of Wollongong NSW Australia, on his trip to Vietnam's annual conference on education, decided to make a detour to Bangkok to give a lecture at the Faculty of Education on April 8, 2004. In his lecture, Mr. Whitby said the main duties of his office were to ensure quality education to over 20,000 students enrolled in 35 primary & secondary schools and 7 congregational schools, under his supervision.

The range of services provided to school personnel by his office covers administration (including building and finance operations), education (including direct support with curriculum and instruction), employee services, and cluster services. The Office has 80 fulltime staff, 27 of these are education officers who regularly visit schools to assist in curriculum matters and who conduct professional development for teachers.

He said that the academic services offered to schools under his supervision could be a model for Thai education reform, especially in the area of professional development for school teachers and administrators.

For more information about the Office and its professional services, visit their web site at www.ceo.woll.catholic.edu.au The site also has links to useful education websites in Australia.

Incidentally, Mr. Greg Whitby and Prof.Terry Burke then at the University of Wollongong were generous hosts to a group M.Ed students who took a trip to University ofWollongong last year led by Dr. Absom Meeting,

Reported by Dr. Absorn Meesing