Finland willing to send experts to Malaysia

(From left) Dr Maszlee, Heinonen, Dr Mohd Gazali and Prof Dzulkifli during a meeting. — Photo courtesy of Education Ministry

FINLAND is prepared to send its experts to Malaysia to help empower the country’s education system, said Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik.

He said this was conveyed to him by Finnish National Agency for Education general director Olli-Pekka Heinonen, during a meeting on Wednesday.

“During the meeting, Heinonen said if Malaysia could not send officers to Finland because of financial factors, Finland is prepared to send its officers to Malaysia.

“Malaysia hopes this cooperation will help us to learn from the Finnish experiences and good practices in improving the standard of the education system in Malaysia,” he said in a statement on Thursday.

Also present were Education Ministry secretary-general Datuk Dr Mohd Gazali Abas and International Islamic University Malaysia rector Prof Tan Sri Dzulkifli Abdul Razak.

The Education Ministry with the cooperation of the International Islamic University Malaysia, organised a seminar on the Finnish education system, held at the university’s main campus in Gombak.

The seminar was held following a discussion between Dr Maszlee and Finland Ambassador to Malaysia Petri Puhakka, who paid a courtesy call on the Education Minister on July 13.

On the seminar, Dr Maszlee said it was the best platform for the Malaysian teaching workforce to learn from Finland on teaching and learning towards improving the country’s education system.

This, he said, would be in line with the country’s effort to promote high quality education and become one of the three best countries in international standard assessments such as the Programme for International Student Assessment (Pisa) and the Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS).

“The exchange of ideas and knowledge between Finland and Malaysia can bring Malaysia on par with Finland in various disciplines of knowledge, including training for teachers, as well as creating a more conducive environment for learning,” he added. — Bernama