KUALA LUMPUR: The Education Ministry has been urged to reconsider its directive for English language teachers to sit for the Malaysian University English Test (MUET).
National Union of the Teaching Profession (NUTP) said the move would only burden teachers even more.
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 level in line with the requirements set out in the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025.
NUTP secretary-general Harry Tan Huat Hock said the ministry should instead be focusing on the main issue — the shortage of English language teachers.
“English option teachers have been asked to sit for MUET when they already have English language teaching qualifications such as Teaching English as a Second Language (TESL)”.
He added that non-option English teachers such as those who were not trained in the field but ended up teaching due to a shortage of teachers certainly couldn’t reach the set level.
According to the circular, all English language teachers should also be at the minimum proficiency level of C1 according to the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR).
They are required to sit for MUET before the end of December and it is self-funded.
Tan said apart from teaching, English language teachers also had to perform various activities such as the highly immersive programme (HIP) and Professional Learning Community (PLC) programmes, compared with teachers teaching other subjects.
“These teachers also have to train students for competitions and other activities such as debates, drama and choral speaking,” he said.