‘MUET gauges English teachers’ proficiency level’
The Education Ministry has defended its decision to have all English language teachers sit the Malaysian University English Test (MUET).
It said the directive was made to gauge the language competency among teachers, adding that this was important to ensure students were taught by those who were proficient in the language as Malaysia aimed to raise the standard of English proficiency in schools.
“The Education Ministry is producing autonomous teachers via continuous professionalism development as it strives to further uplift and strengthen the teaching profession so that it can be on a par with international standards.
“English language teachers must support efforts to boost English language proficiency and pedagogical skills,” the ministry said in response to a call by the National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) to reconsider its directive for English language teachers to sit MUET before the end of December.
The directive was issued in a circular dated April 14 by Education director-general Datuk Dr Amin Senin. It is aimed at reviewing teachers’ English proficiency levels in line with the requirements set out in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025.
The ministry said it had engaged NUTP on the roll out of the Professional Upskilling of English Language Teachers course and the level of proficiency for English teachers based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
“The ministry wants to assure (all interested parties) that it will focus on addressing the shortage of English teachers and, at the same time, not burden the teachers.”
NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan had said the ministry should focus on the main issue — the shortage of English language teachers — instead of asking them to sit MUET, especially for those who already had English language teaching qualifications, such as Teaching English as a Second Language.
Tan said non-option English teachers, such as those who were not trained in the field but ended up teaching due to a lack of teachers, could not meet the requirements.
The circular also stated all English language teachers should be at the minimum proficiency level of C1, according to CEFR.
It said the development of the English Language Education Reform in Malaysia: The Roadmap (2015-2025) was to achieve the goals of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 via a systemic and systematic English Language education reform plan.