Malaysia to Manage Southeast Asian Special Education Centre

KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has been officially given the responsibility to manage the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation for Special Education (SEAMEO SEN) regional centre through the endorsement of two documents on Monday. The two documents, a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) and an Enabling Instrument were aimed at paving the way for the operation of the only Southeast Asian centre specialising in special education, to be located in Malaysia. Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin who is also the Education Minister witnessed the signing of the two documents in conjunction with the visit of Brunei's Education Minister Pehin Abu Bakar Apong who is also the president of the 46th SEAMEO to Malaysia that started Sunday. The MoA on the establishment of SEAMEO SEN was signed between the Malaysian government, represented by the education ministry secretary-general Dr Rosli Mohamad and SEAMEO secretariat director Dr Witaya Jeradechakul, followed by the signing of the enabling instrument by Abu Bakar. With the signing, the Malaysian government will be responsible for the provision of the centre's annual financial allocation. According to an education ministry statement, the setting up of SEAMEO SEN is aimed at fulfilling the regional needs in special education, including training of administrators, teachers, support groups, research and development as well as functioning as an information and service support centre. According to Dr Rosli, the centre has been operating temporarily at the Malay Women's Teachers Training Institute in Melaka while awaiting the completion of its permanent site at Bandar Enstek. "At the moment we are operating in phases, with the initial stage on organising seminar and conference programmes on the best teaching and learning methods for special education students. "This is a contribution of Malaysia as a pioneer in the field because we have experience in providing teaching and learning for such students and we would also be obtaining experts from SEAMEO member countries," he told reporters after the ceremony. There are 33 primary and secondary special education schools in the country. In this regard, Abu Bakar's visit to the country is part of his round to all member countries during his two-year term as SEAMEO president to strengthen relations among member countries of the organisation. During his visit, Abu Bakar also called on the Deputy Prime Minister and visited the SEAMEO regional centres of excellence for microbiology, parapsychology and entomology) and the Regional Centre for Education in Science and Mathematics (SEAMEO RECSAM). Members of SEAMEO comprise Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Vietnam. -- BERNAMA