Cambridge English Evaluates Learning, Teaching And Assessment Of English In Malaysian Schools

From Khairdzir Md Yunus

LONDON, Jan 20 (Bernama) -- Cambridge English, an expert in language assessment in United Kingdom (UK), has been commissioned by the Ministry of Education (MOE) to undertake a comprehensive evaluation of learning, teaching and assessment of English language in Malaysian schools from pre-school to pre-university.

Deputy Director-General of Education (Policy and Development, MOE) Datuk Amin Senin said Cambridge English was commissioned to undertake the study in May last year.

It was expected to be completed by the end of this month while the findings and recommendations were expected to be submitted to the government in April next year.

Deputy Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin, who is in London for a three-day visit to the UK beginning January 21, is scheduled to be briefed on the preliminary report on "The Baseline Project: Measuring English Language Standard and Establising and evidence-based base line for Malaysian schools."

Amin said Cambride English would be meeting Muhyiddin, who is also the Education Minister on Tuesday (Jan 21) and would brief him on the report.

Cambridge English Language Assessment proposed to MOE on January 21, 2013 and was asked to do a comprehensive evaluation of the learning, teaching and assessment of English language in Malaysian schools from pre-school to pre-university.

The proposal was presented to and endorsed by the MOE top managemen on May 8, 2013.

The objectives of the study are to strengthen, promote and develop cooperation in English Language education to ensure every child is proficient in Bahasa Malaysia and English Language as endorsed by the Malaysian Education Blueprint 2013-2025.

The base line study is a platform to benchmark the standards of English language in Malaysian schools according to international standards.

The findings from this study will enable MOE to set realistic and achievable targets for future learning and teaching and will also provide baseline data which it can use to monitor and evaluate whether future set targets are met and whether any future education reform is working as intended.

Amin said the study will measure English language proficiency of students from year 1 to year 6. It will also measure the teaching abilities and practices in schools.

The study will review current assessment practices by analysing current examinations, test specifications, mark schemes and recent examination results at end-of-school, end of primary school (Year 6), end of lower secondary (Form 3), end of upper secondary (Form 5 and end of Form 6).

It will also analyse the current english language curricula, teaching guides, teaching materials, current examinations and recent examination data.

Asked whether the outcome and recommendations of the study would cause major adjustment and aligment to the current education policy, Amin said he did not think so.

-- BERNAMA