A regulation stipulating that English language teachers must achieverequired scores on international English tests come into force with thestart of the new academic year, but many teachers are unable to meet thenew requirements.
According to the Ministry of Education andTraining, all English language teachers are required to score at least550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam or 6.0 onthe International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Teacherswhose scores do not make the grade would be required to improve theirskills and re-take the exam. Those who failed the exam twice would beforced to quit their teaching jobs.
However, surveys carried out by the ministry revealed that few teachers have passed the exams.
In southern Ben Tre province, only 61 out of 700 English language teachers were able to achieve the required score.
In Hanoi , nearly 150 teachers from 90 primary schools took theexams, but only 28, which accounted for 18 percent, passed.
About500 teachers in southern Soc Trang province will take the exams nextmonth, and many said most would struggle to pass and need to takeshort-term training courses to improve their skills.
Nguyen ThuNga, an English language teacher at Le Loi Secondary School in Soc Trangprovince, said many teachers in the area could adequately teach readingand writing skills, but struggled with listening and speaking skills,which were also tested in the exams.
"We (teachers) live in ruralareas and have little chance of improving our listening and speakingskills," said Nga. "To be good at speaking and listening, you need topractise a lot."
Nguyen Hoai Chuong, deputy director of the HCMCity Department of Education and Training, said improving the Englishskills of teachers was not an easy task and required a long time.
Chuong said it would take until 2020 for teachers to achieve therequired scores. He said the department would develop plans to improvethe English skills of teachers who failed the exams and want to continuetheir jobs. /.
According to the Ministry of Education andTraining, all English language teachers are required to score at least550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) exam or 6.0 onthe International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
Teacherswhose scores do not make the grade would be required to improve theirskills and re-take the exam. Those who failed the exam twice would beforced to quit their teaching jobs.
However, surveys carried out by the ministry revealed that few teachers have passed the exams.
In southern Ben Tre province, only 61 out of 700 English language teachers were able to achieve the required score.
In Hanoi , nearly 150 teachers from 90 primary schools took theexams, but only 28, which accounted for 18 percent, passed.
About500 teachers in southern Soc Trang province will take the exams nextmonth, and many said most would struggle to pass and need to takeshort-term training courses to improve their skills.
Nguyen ThuNga, an English language teacher at Le Loi Secondary School in Soc Trangprovince, said many teachers in the area could adequately teach readingand writing skills, but struggled with listening and speaking skills,which were also tested in the exams.
"We (teachers) live in ruralareas and have little chance of improving our listening and speakingskills," said Nga. "To be good at speaking and listening, you need topractise a lot."
Nguyen Hoai Chuong, deputy director of the HCMCity Department of Education and Training, said improving the Englishskills of teachers was not an easy task and required a long time.
Chuong said it would take until 2020 for teachers to achieve therequired scores. He said the department would develop plans to improvethe English skills of teachers who failed the exams and want to continuetheir jobs. /.
