15 teachers and principals from around Australia recently visited Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to kick off a 10 day education briefing designed to enhance their understanding of South East Asia. The Malaysia Unplugged study tour 2012, conducted by the Asia Education Foundation at the University of Melbourne, gave the Australian educators a unique insight into the multiracial nature of Malaysia and the diversity of South East Asia. Conducted for the second time in Malaysia, the educators travelled from the modern city of Kuala Lumpur to the historic town of Malacca and across the sea to the East Malaysian capital of Kuching in Sarawak (on the island of Borneo) to gain different perspectives on education in the region.

 

AEI arranged for in-depth briefings on the Malaysian education system, as well as the political and social environment and history of the region. AEI also arranged for an in school teaching experience for the visitors and briefings from educators working in the local education system.

 

As part of their educational tour, the educators visited the Malaysia Institute of Education to learn about its role as a teacher training and to understand more about Malaysia’s approach to education including an overview of Australia’s joint activities with the Institute to support the Malaysian Afghanistan Education Project for Afghanistan. The educators were impressed with the work done by the Malaysian Institute of Education to support development of teachers in Afghanistan.

 

Three of the participants had the opportunity to visit sister schools in Kuala Lumpur and Kuala Terengganu, while others had opportunity to explore possibility of establishing sister schools connections in Malacca and Sarawak.

 

With the success of Malaysia Unplugged” study tour 2012 we look forward to welcoming the next Malaysia Unplugged” study tour 2013 group next year.

Australian teachers and principals in Kuala Lumpur for the “Malaysia Unplugged” study tour 2012.