BANGKOK, June 9 - After years of informal ties in the education field, Malaysia and Thailand are expected to sign a historic memorandum of understanding (MoU) in August to pave the way for closer cooperation and exchange of expertise between their educators.
The formal collaboration comes in the wake of the two neighbours ushering in their 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.
The MoU is expected to be finalised and signed when Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont visits Malaysia in August.
Deputy Director-General of Education (School Division) Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom led 12 Education Ministry senior officials to explore areas of cooperation during their five-day visit to Thailand which ended today.
Alimuddin said the MoU was the result of a recent meeting between Malaysian Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and his Thai counterpart Prof Dr Wichit Srisa-an here and in Kuala Lumpur last month.
"Many schools and institutions in both countries have exchange programmes and cooperation for many years. In view of that, the ministers felt there is a need for formal cooperation that will benefit the two countries," he said in an interview here.
Alimuddin said the MoU would, among others, touch on academic cooperation and exchange of staff, experts, teachers and students, promoting linkages between cluster schools and organising training programmes for teachers.
He said one of the important areas of cooperation involves religious schools as Dr Wichit had sought Malaysia's help to further develop the religious school system in Thailand, especially in the restive south.
"Dr Wichit was impressed with our religious school system that gives equal importance to both religious studies and normal syllabus.
"He wants to implement a similar model in Thailand," he said.
Alimuddin said Thai officials are also keen to learn from Malaysia the teaching of science and mathematics in English.
In return, he said, Malaysia hopes to learn from Thailand the examination and evaluation systems for arts schools, which are new in Malaysia, as well as special education.
In August, 500 scouts from Malaysian schools bordering Thailand would join 1,500 scouts from the southern provinces in the Thai-Malaysia Border Scouts Jamboree in Songkhla.
The formal collaboration comes in the wake of the two neighbours ushering in their 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties this year.
The MoU is expected to be finalised and signed when Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont visits Malaysia in August.
Deputy Director-General of Education (School Division) Datuk Alimuddin Mohd Dom led 12 Education Ministry senior officials to explore areas of cooperation during their five-day visit to Thailand which ended today.
Alimuddin said the MoU was the result of a recent meeting between Malaysian Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein and his Thai counterpart Prof Dr Wichit Srisa-an here and in Kuala Lumpur last month.
"Many schools and institutions in both countries have exchange programmes and cooperation for many years. In view of that, the ministers felt there is a need for formal cooperation that will benefit the two countries," he said in an interview here.
Alimuddin said the MoU would, among others, touch on academic cooperation and exchange of staff, experts, teachers and students, promoting linkages between cluster schools and organising training programmes for teachers.
He said one of the important areas of cooperation involves religious schools as Dr Wichit had sought Malaysia's help to further develop the religious school system in Thailand, especially in the restive south.
"Dr Wichit was impressed with our religious school system that gives equal importance to both religious studies and normal syllabus.
"He wants to implement a similar model in Thailand," he said.
Alimuddin said Thai officials are also keen to learn from Malaysia the teaching of science and mathematics in English.
In return, he said, Malaysia hopes to learn from Thailand the examination and evaluation systems for arts schools, which are new in Malaysia, as well as special education.
In August, 500 scouts from Malaysian schools bordering Thailand would join 1,500 scouts from the southern provinces in the Thai-Malaysia Border Scouts Jamboree in Songkhla.
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