SINGAPORE - Students need to be prepared for a globalised world of fast-evolving technology, Education Minister Heng Swee Keat said on Friday night.

He was addressing 200 teachers from Singapore, Korea and across the Asean region at the opening of the three-day 30th Asean Council of Teachers Convention at Orchard Hotel, which this year has a theme of professional development.

In the Asean region, education is a key area of cooperation, Mr Heng said.

"The bonds formed by our students and by our people are crucial to the long-lasting friendships we enjoy as a region," he said.

"We recognise that it is important for our students to be outward-looking, to understand social and cultural contexts and to appreciate the value of regional cooperation and good neighbourliness."

He added that students face challenges from technology and globalisation, and technology like tablets and mobile phones mean they are "very exposed to developments around the world".

"It is important for us to help our students maintain their sense of identity, their cultural roots and their history," he said, saying that teachers must help them to develop a sense of responsibility towards the community and world.