50 ETAs Called on Malaysian Prime Minister and Director General of the Ministry of Education Malaysia

Hi-tea hosted by Prime Minister Najib. (U.S. Embassy photo)

ETA group photo with Dato’ Abd Ghafar. (U.S. Embassy photo)

On January 19, 50 Fulbright English Teaching Assistants (ETAs) accompanied by Ambassador Paul W. Jones were invited by Malaysian Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak to a High Tea at his office in Putrajaya.  The 2012 ETA program has tripled in size from 2011, reflecting the shared commitment of U.S. President Barack Obama and Prime Minister Najib to expand people-to-people exchange programs between the United States and Malaysia.   The ETAs arrived on January 4 to begin a 10-month assignment to enrich and enhance English instruction in secondary schools in the states of Johor, Pahang and Terengganu, by providing native speakers as models who can also offer information and insight into American society and culture.  The ETA program is administered jointly by the Malaysian-American Commission on Educational Exchange (MACEE) and the Ministry of Education.  Recent graduates of universities throughout the U.S., the ETAs come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are engaged in a variety of fields of study.  Also present at the meeting was Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Hj. Mohd Yassin.  After the meeting, Prime Minister Najib hosted a tea at the Perdana Putra Building in Putrajaya.

Following the call on Prime Minister Najib, on January 20 the ETAs made a courtesy call on the Director General of the Ministry of Education Malaysia YBhg Dato’ Abd Ghafar bin Mahmud prior to their departure to their respective duty states; Terengganu, Pahang, and Johor.  In his remarks, Dato Ghafar said that the ETA program is important for the bilateral ties between the United States and Malaysia.   Representatives from the various departments within the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and State Education officials were also present at the meeting.

The ETAs are scheduled to attend a week of orientation at the state level upon arrival before they are posted to their respective schools.