Malaysia will provide teacher training facilities through a US$5 million grant for Unesco member countries lagging behind in educational development, said Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin in Paris.

NONE Muhyiddin, who is also education minister, said it was infortunate that many of the countries would not be able to meet Unesco's Education For All (EFA)

target by 2015 due to limited economic resources and education infrastructure.

"Malaysia is, however, fortunate to have the facilities and is prepared to share its experience and expertise with countries that require assistance in teacher training," he told Malaysian journalists, today.

Muhyiddin who is attending the 184th session of the Unesco (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation) executive board which began at its headquarters in Paris today, said the grant offer would be discussed in detail with Unesco director-general Irina Bokova at their meeting tomorrow.

The offer was made as a follow-up to Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak's attendance at the 35th Unesco General Assembly in Paris on Oct 6 last year where he announced Malaysia's contribution to the effort.

The programme under the fund would be implemented through discussions with officials from the Unesco regional offices in Bangkok and Jakarta, its priority Africa offices and the Malaysian National Commission forUnesco at the Education Ministry.

Under the initiative, Malaysia will provide teacher training facilities at the pre-service, in-service, and school administration and management levels, with about 300 places offered each year at all levels.

­- Bernama