PRESS RELEASE
LAUNCHING OF THE EXHIBITION ?CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF MALAYSIA?S EDUCATION ACCOMPLISHMENTS?
BY THE HON. DATO? SRI HISHAMUDDIN TUN HUSSEIN,
MINISTER OF EDUCATION AT THE UNESCO, PARIS
The Honourable Dato? Sri Hishamuddin Tun Hussein, Minister of Education arrived in Paris on Monday, 2 April 2007 and officiated the exhibition entitled ?Celebrating 50 Years of Malaysia?s Education Accomplishments? at the UNESCO Headquarters.
2. The exhibition held from 2 to 6 April 2007 is to showcase the achievements that the Malaysian government has made in education since the country gained its independence 50 years ago.
3. The launching of the exhibition officiated by the Hon. Minister was attended by Mr. Koichiro Matsuura, Director General of UNESCO; Mr. Kenneth J. Luis, Permanent Delegate of Malaysia to UNESCO; YBhg. Dato? Razali Ismail, Member of Parliament, Kuala Terengganu and Encik S.K. Devamany, Member of Parliament, Cameron Highlands. Also present at the event were Ambassadors and Permanent Delegates to UNESCO, officials from the Ministry of Education of Malaysia, the Embassy as well other Malaysian agencies in Paris.
4. In his welcoming address at the opening ceremony, the Hon. Minister stated
that education in Malaysia was enhanced due to the implementation of the national economic and development policies. He added that the recently launched 2006-2010 National Education Blueprint policies would focus on the increasing access and equity to education as well as enhancing the quality, efficiency and the effectiveness of education management. The cluster schools programme is one of six thrusts of the Education Ministry's National Education Blueprint, seeks to produce schools of excellence in niche areas like sports, music, sciences and information and communications technology. The Hon. Minister also highlighted on the importance of the integration of ICT in teaching and learning for quality education in Malaysia.
5. The Director General of UNESCO, Mr. Koichiro Matsuura in his speech stated that there were three important lessons that could be drawn from Malaysia?s success in education. The most important was on Malaysian government?s investment of 8 percent to education, which he opined that the investment is a commitment that other countries should follow.
6. ?The second lesson would be the need for a holistic approach that integrates education into wider development strategies. This is something that Malaysia is working well to address,? he said. He further added that the final lesson regards the value to be gained from mobilizing new technologies to improve the access, quality and relevance of education. ?Malaysia has shown the far-reaching advantages that ICT can bring, especially in strengthening links between education and the world of work?, he explained.
7. The Hon. Minister also met with the Malaysian community in France at a dinner and dialogue session held at the Hotel Concorde La Fayette Paris on Tuesday evening. 130 guests including students and members of the Malaysian Association in France (MAF) attended the dinner.
8. During the dialogue, a wide range of questions covering Malaysia?s education policies and recognition of courses were fielded to the Hon. Minister. The Hon. Minister duly answered the questions and informed the guests on UNESCO?s recognition of Malaysia?s success in education.
9. During his four-day visit to Paris, the Hon. Minister will visit various public educational institutions including a public elementary and secondary school and the French International Institute for Educational Planning.
10. The Hon. Minister will meet with the President of the French Senate, Mr. Christian Poncelet on Wednesday, 4 April 2007. The President of the French-Malaysian Friendship Group of the National Assembly, Mr. Jean-Marie Le Guen also called on the Hon. Minister at Hotel Hilton Paris on 2 April 2007.
11. The Minister will leave Paris on 4 April 2007.
Embassy of Malaysia
2 April 2007