UNESCO'S HELP WILL BE ENLISTED TO FURTHER IMPROVE M'SIA'S EDUCATION SYSTEM

FROM AHMAD KAMIL TAHIR

PARIS, June 30 (Bernama) -- A study of the education policies and the
education system practised in Malaysia will be done to chart out the future
direction of education in the country, especially in the development aspects
like in advanced countries, said Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin.

He said towards this end, a special team comprising local experts and from
Unesco would be set up in the near future to do the study.

“Though our policies and education system have put Malaysia in a good
standing, we should also take into consideration the views of others to further
improve the existing system.

“Unesco is the most suitable international organisation for this purpose,"
he told Malaysian journalists after having a meeting with Unesco secretary
Koichiro Matsuura at the latter's office here Monday.

Muhyiddin, who is also Education Minister, said Matsuura agreed with him on
the idea of setting up such a team to bring Malaysian education to greater
heights.

He said the ministry would provide the terms of reference for the study
one the membership of the team was finalised.

Asked why the study should involve outsiders, Muhyiddin said this was
important to identify strengths and weaknesses of the system.

"It will help us identify if our system is in tandem or if there huge gaps
with the systems practised by the more advanced countries," he said, adding that
the ensuing final report would also be more balanced before it was submitted to
the government.

He added that having the study also did not mean the current system was
lacking only that the country must find ways to ensure it was as good if not
better than those of advanced countries.

-- BERNAMA