RECSAM 50th Anniversary Coffee Table Book

6 science and mathematics in order to lay the foundation for meeting the technically and scienti fi cally trained human resource requirements of the region. On the outset, the proposal included operational plans to make RECSAM a centre of excellence to enhance thequality of teaching-learning in science and mathematics education. The Centre was also seen as an exemplar role-player that would be entrusted to actively involve national and regional teacher-training institutions, colleges of education, and faculties of science and mathematics in implementing useful programmes. This was seen as one of the avenues that could help member countries to meet emerging trends and future challenges affecting the region. SEAMEO RECSAM was of fi cially inaugurated in May 1967 at the First Steering Committee Meeting, consisting of two ministerial representatives from each of the six SEAMEO Member Countries, the Malaysian Ministry of Education and the US Government. The FourthMinisterial Conferenceof SEAMEO, held in Jakarta in January 1969, approved the fi rst Five-Year Development Plan (July 1970 to June 1975), for which the steering committee had identi fi ed policy guidelines to be followed. This plan was SEAMEO RECSAM’s First Permanent Phase of Operation. In June 1969, another Ministerial Conference was held in Singapore where arrangements to source for funds were presented. The host government, Malaysia, would absorb 50 percent of the total building and operational costs, while the balance would be contributed by the US Government. During the Interim Phase, massive project works were carried out, right from architectural and engineering studies to acquiring facilities that were temporarily loaned by (then) the Malayan Teachers' College (MTC) presently known as Institut Pendidikan Guru (IPG). Y.B. Tan Sri Mohd. Khir Johari, the Minister of Education of Malaysia during his of fi cial visit to RECSAM’s of fi ce at the MTC (Malayan Teachers’ College) premises in 1969