Two-thirds of our 70,000 ENGLISH Teachers tested not proficient in English

Afterschool

September 25, 2012

Two-thirds of the 70,000 English teachers in Malaysia failed to reach a proficient English level, according to results of the Cambridge Placement Test.
Moreover, two in three students fail to meet to meet the basics in English proficiency. This was based on a comparative survey of 13,000 students' results in SPM English and Cambridge 1119 standards.
In relation to the curriculum and teaching in line with the strengthening of the English language, Education Ministry Deputy Director-General Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof said that they have some initiatives with various non-govermental organisations (NGOs) in Malaysia.
Among these initiatives include English Teaching Assistant Programmes as well as contract teachers employed to teach the language.
In response, the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) Penang branch Chairman Ng Weng Tutt said the union lauded the proposal in the Educational Blueprint for the upskilling of teachers.
"The upskilling of teachers is in the right direction. After five years, teachrs need to be sent for courses."
"We want the government to upgrade all teachers, and not only from a certain group, from time to time, and also to send them for training."