Mr.Chaturon Chaisang, Minister of Education, Police Colonel Tawee Sodsong, Secretary General of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC), Mrs. Suthasri Wongsamarn, Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education, and their delegation paid a visit to the Sudan (10-11 May) and Egypt (11-12 May) to discuss ways and means to assist and support Thai students studying in the Sudan and Egypt. 

In the Sudan, the Minister of Education and his delegation paid a courtesy called on the Minister of State for Education, the Under Secretary of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, a representative from Ministry of Higher Education and the Rector of International University of Africa.

In Egypt, the Minister of Education and his delegation paid a courtesy called on the Grand Imam and the President of Al Azhar University. 

Moreover, the Minister of Education and his delegation met about 300 Thai students in the Sudan and 200 Thai students in Egypt to discuss ways and means to support education and the living of Thai students studying in both countries. 

During the meeting with Grand Imam, the Thai Ambassador presented a cheque valued 30,000 USD as a donation from the Royal Thai Government to support the welfare and activities of Thai students studying at Al Azhar University. The Grand Imam and the President of Al Azhar University accepted the invitation of the Minister of Education to visit Thailand to meet the executives of Islamic religious school (Pondok) and the religious leaders of Muslim communities in the southern border provinces of Thailand.