I have attended SEARS-MT workshop which has developed the standards for mathematics teachers in Southeast Asia. This is very interesting experience. The document itself is yet to be
finalized. I would like to share the vote of thanks and a picture.
Director, Dr. Hj. Mohd Johan bin Zakaria, Deputy
Director, Ms. Foo Lay Kuan, the coordinator, Dr. Cheah Ui Hock, international
consultant professors, distinguished countries experts, colleagues in RECSAM,
ladies and gentlemen,
I feel honored to convey my words of
appreciation by representing the team of national and international consultants.
It was just a few days ago when we came here in this room to start greeting
each other and imagining what is going to happen from now. These three and half
days were very fulfilling. We spend the time very intensively here in this room
and also outside this room.
First of all, thank you very much, dear
director, for your understanding of the importance of this workshop and support.
I thank you for the RECSAM’s initiative to take a lead in this significant work
of developing teachers’ standards in ASEAN countries of diversity at the
critical time of pre-economic integration period.
Dr. Cheah, your superb chairmanship has guided
this difficult discussion efficiently so that it never deviates much from the due
course, but at the same time ensure the participation of all members. Thank you
very much for your dedicated work, and also even tourist guiding after the
serious work.
Country experts, your contribution is
really valuable. Those comments and opinions make the professional discussion
possible. Indeed the discussion has been very productive. Thank you very much
for your contribution. And I am sure that after this workshop your contribution
will be more valuable and you will be determined to play an important role to
implement this. We are looking forward to seeing the development in each of
your country.
Fellow international experts are really
helpful not only in guiding us professionally and language-wise but also
showing us a professional model to emulate. Such a professional and
compassionate stance is only possible if you have enough professional knowledge
and deep understanding of this ASEAN context of diversity and culture. Thank you
very much.
Lastly but not least thank you very much
for all RECSAM members. Without your tireless supports, this workshop never
becomes such a smooth and productive one. We are able to stay here comfortably
and concentrate on discussion without worrying about anything else.
I think teachers are generally very deep
thinkers. If you say them what to do, they won’t listen to you directly but
think deeply what is implied. Especially currently in all countries they are
under extreme pressure of accountability. They are always asked for the
document and assessment. We have to understand the difficulty and sensitivity
of their work. And with that understanding, I hope that you will lead and guide
the mathematics education community in these teachers’ standards, which we have
developed.
I like the UNESCO report of the
International Commission on Education for the Twenty-first Century, Learning: the treasure within. I
really think learning is the very important aspect of human being for us to be
creative. And during this workshop, this learning was very notable. We have
learned each other about the countries’ differences and common aspiration and problems
to be overcome. When you apply these standards, we need your leadership in guiding
the community and overcoming problems.
Last night I was browsing the report. I
found out many tensions to overcome in order to realize the ideals of the
education. The very first tension among all was the following:
- The tension between the global and the local: people need gradually
to become world citizens without losing their roots and while continuing
to play an active part in the life of their nation and their local
community.
Here we need being local and being global
at the same time. For this, we have a creative word “glocal”.
Throughout this workshop, I have insisted
on Professional communities. I think this workshop is a realization of such professional
communities in the sense of glocal. We are always conscious about the cultural
differences of each country and at the same time we have made the best efforts
to come up with the common standards for ASEAN countries. Surprisingly, in
Japan, we don’t have common standards. Maybe in future we shall import the idea
of SEARS.
I have to apologize one thing to you. I
have tried to make arrangement with the Japanese textbook company (Keirinkan) to
give one copy of translated versions of Japanese mathematics textbooks to each
participant. The books arrived at the country on Monday already but due to some
problems they have not arrived here. Dr. Cheah suggested helping me in giving
you this even after the workshop. I hope that you will be able to receive the
copy sooner or later.
In this textbook, we tried to practice the
glocal spirit. We translated the Japanese text into English but tried to retain
and convey some Japanese context of mathematics education. One example is that our
number system is based on four digit system of ones, tens, hundreds, thousands,
and mans, which mean ten thousands. And every four digit the number repeats
unlike the English every three digits it repeats. We try to retain some of
these characteristics as much as possible. You will see this in the translated
textbooks.
I am sure that SEARS (MT) document will
play a guiding role in improving the quality of mathematics education from now
on. Today is the very first step toward new era of such a new approach in the
area of mathematics education.
By saying “thank you” once again for all
people concerned. Maybe one year later or so, let us meet again. Until then, I
wish you the very best for everybody.
Takuya Baba, Hiroshima University
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