Malaysia, Singapore discuss AI, English proficiency and teacher exchanges

GEORGE TOWN: Malaysia and Singapore are exploring closer education cooperation, focusing on English proficiency, teacher exchanges, artificial intelligence (AI) and cross-border school networks.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Fadhlina Sidek said discussions with Singapore Education Minister Desmond Lee centred on expanding opportunities for teachers and pupils in both countries through knowledge-sharing and collaborative programmes.

"The strong ties between Malaysia and Singapore should continue to be leveraged to create more opportunities for children and teachers in both countries," she said in a Facebook post today.

Among the key initiatives discussed was the Malaysia-Singapore English Volunteers Programme (MSEVP), which aims to improve pupils' English proficiency.

Fadhlina said both sides also discussed exchanges for Malay language teachers to share teaching experiences, approaches and best practices.

The talks also covered the use of AI in education, including Malaysia's experience with DELIMa, its digital learning platform.

Another area of cooperation was strengthening school networking programmes between the two countries, giving pupils opportunities to experience each other's cultures and learn alongside their counterparts across the border.

Fadhlina said both countries had their respective strengths in education and could benefit from sharing expertise and learning from one another.

She stressed that cooperation must translate into tangible benefits for educators and pupils, particularly those directly involved in teaching and learning.

"Most importantly, this cooperation must benefit the teachers who teach and the children who learn," she added.