RECSAM 50th Anniversary Coffee Table Book

68 development of valid and reliable standards has been the building of consensus among stakeholders. As such, SEARS-ST was an effort among SEAMEO countries to formulate a benchmark for quality science teachers in the SEAMEO region. For it to be useful, valid and relevant for each country, it needs to be debated and discussed within the country. Subsequently, SEAMEO RECSAM spearheaded the initiative in utilising the SEARS–ST to develop the – Malaysian Science Teachers Quality Standards (MSTQS) through a workshop held on 26 & 27 May 2015 at SEAMEO RECSAM, Penang. The MSTQS is developed with the goal of documenting a set of local descriptors that describe desirable characteristics and attributes of a science teacher in the 21 st century. The MSTQS is proposed to serve as a guide to Malaysian science educators and researchers in one or more of these ways: (i) Teachers’ personal Continuing Professional Development (CPD) and performance evaluation at institution level; (ii) Preparation of science teachers’ in-service education programmes; and (iii) Benchmarking of Malaysian with other education system to formulate policies for the improvement of quality science teacher education. Dr. Mark Windale (standing), consultant from Shef fi eld Hallam University, UK giving his input during the SEARS-ST workshop held at RECSAM in 2014 SEAMEO Member Countries representatives and consultants in SEARS-ST workshop discussion Sessions during the MSTQS workshop held at RECSAM in 2015