SEAMEO COUNCIL CONFERENCE AGREES TO SET UP REGIONAL CENTRE FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION IN MALAYSIA

CEBU, Jan 28 (Bernama) -- The 45th Conference of the Council of Southeast
Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (Seameo) Wednesday agreed to build
another Seameo regional centre on special education in Malaysia.

Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said the setting up of the
centre was important for Seameo member countries in providing the form of
education needed by special students.

"We will begin with the project soon. All expenses will be borne by
Malaysia," he told reporters after the conference plenary session here.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said that for the time being, the
centre would be in Melaka before the building of a permanent one in Nilai,
Negeri Sembilan.

There is already a Seameo regional centre in Penang which is on science and
mathematics (Seameo Recsam).

Commenting on his meetings with his counterparts from Vietnam, Singapore and
the Philippines, Muhyiddin said they all agreed to cooperate in enhancing the
learning and mastering of the English language.

"Although countries like Vietnam do not use English as a second language,
but it is an important language. So we agreed to work together because we have
been informed that this country too is faced with shortage of trained teachers,"
he added.

He said Vietnam also wanted assistance from Malaysia in higher education
while Singapore was keen to enhance cooperation in co-curricular activities in
schools.

Muhyiddin and his wife, Noorainee Abdul Rahman, returned home
Wednesday night.

On Jan 28, a forum, themed "Understanding The Vital Pathways For Future
Learning", will be held where education ministers from member countries
will be able to exchange views and experience.

The fifth meeting of the Asean education ministers will also be held
tomorrow to study several programmes, including on the Asean University Network
and the development of resources on Asean for school reference.

-- BERNAMA