RECSAM 50th Anniversary Coffee Table Book

111 RECSAM, as I see It 10 Mrs. Varadune Amarathithada Deputy Director General Teacher Training Department, Ministry of Education, LAO PDR In 1994, I was appointed to be theDeputy Director General of the Teacher Education Department to oversee the INSET throughout the country and later was assigned to be the Governing Board Member of SEAMEO RECSAM in 1998. My fi rst participation in the 38 th Governing Board Meeting of SEAMEO RECSAM was in conjunction with the Centre’s 40 th Anniversary Celebration. My fi rst impression was on the commitment of the Malaysian government to promote regional cooperation in education particularly in Math and Sciences and the capacity building as an engine of growth in the region. On the occasion of celebrating the 50 th Anniversary, on behalf of the Ministry of Education and Sports, Department of Teacher Education, I would like to convey my hearty congratulation and appreciation to SEAMEO RECSAM Centre in achieving the regional and international recognition as a Centre of Excellence for training, research and development in the areas of Science and Mathematics. Within 50 years, SEAMEO RECSAM has grown tremendously in all aspects. The Centre promotes and enhances its expertise in science and mathematics education to improve the quality of teachers, which in turn contribute to sustain education development and economic growth. The successful contribution of SEAMEO RECSAM to Lao PDR teachers and educators, on capacity building is proven and shown in their enthusiast to send congratulatorymessages to RECSAMby the former Laotian participants. The training courses have provided them with knowledge and skills in improving their quality of teaching and learning and upgraded their professional development. In addition, their fl uency in English language also improved at the end of the course which they attended. Again, I would to express my sincere thanks to SEAMEO RECSAM for its great contribution in improving the quality of teaching science and mathematics in Lao PDR. Mr. Md Aznor bin Mahat Undersecretary Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme International Cooperation and Development Division Department of Multilateral Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs Malaysia On behalf of the Malaysian Technical Cooperation Programme (MTCP) Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we wish to congratulate SEAMEO RECSAM in conjunction with its 50 th Anniversary Celebration and the launch of its Coffee Table Book. The 50 th Anniversary Celebration proved that SEAMEO RECSAM has done tremendous efforts in expanding the development of science and mathematics education in the Southeast Asia region. Since joining the MTCP’s fl eet of Training Institutions in 2008, SEAMEO RECSAM has been actively engaging with us in conducting programmes. The Centre has relentlessly carried out various trainings and the collaboration of MTCP and SEAMEO RECSAM has bene fi tted both teachers and educators in relevant MTCP recipient countries. SEAMEO RECSAM has effectively served its mandate as a SEAMEO Centre to deliver human resource development services in the region and beyond as depicted in this book. Their action is aligned with the MTCP’s philosophy which believes that human resource development is a vital catalyst to achieve sustainable economic and social development of a developing country. SEAMEO RECSAM has also collaborated withMTCP in sharingMalaysia’s development experiences and in strengthening the existing bilateral relations between Malaysia and other developing countries. The MTCP Secretariat would continuously support and be appreciative of SEAMEO RECSAM’s efforts in projecting the importance of education as a dynamic force of building a literate and mature society. Again, it is my great pleasure to congratulate SEAMEO RECSAM on its 50 th Anniversary, and may it continue to soar towards greater heights.