FINANCIAL CRISIS WILL NOT JEOPARDISE MALAYSIA'S EDUCATION AGENDA From Leslean Arshad

PARIS, Oct 7 (Bernama) -- Malaysia will not reduce its financial allocation and aid for education regardless of the country's and world economic situation, Education Minister Hishammuddin Hussein said.

In giving the assurance, he said the allocation for education had never
been reduced, but was increased in the 2009 Budget and in the Mid-Term Review
because Malaysia was committed to moulding a world-competitive human
capital.

Hishammudin, who is here for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and
Cultural Organisation (Unesco) executive board meeting, said the international
organisation had voiced its concern over the effects of the global financial
crisis on the implementation of its programmes and agendas, like the Education
For All.

"Regardless of the economic situation in the country and the world,
Malaysia has always maintained its policy of providing allocation and aid for
education and making education accessible to all, no matter their location or
stream in school," he added.

Hishammuddin said he would voice Malaysia's stand and share the experiences
of the country's education system in his speech at the meeting on
Wednesday.

He said it was crucial for Malaysia to participate actively in Unesco,
through its membership in the organisation's executive board, as it would enable
Malaysia to compare its education system with that of other countries.

He also said that Malaysia's smart school programme was being evaluated by
Saudi Arabia.