ALMOST RM5 BILLION ALLOCATED TO RAISE ENGLISH PROFICIENCY

KUALA LUMPUR, July 9 (Bernama) -- The government has allocated almost RM5 billion to strengthen the teaching and learning of English in schools, the Senate was told Thursday.

Deputy Education Minister, Dr Mohd Puad Zarkashi said the ministry had also
provided training for English teachers to help them raise students' proficiency
in English.

"We will also include various modules like listening, speaking, writing and
literature with focus on grammar. We will ensure that English proficiency means
that one not only can speak the language, but can also use it correctly," he
said in reply to Senator Samsiah Samsudin Thursday.

Mohd Puad said the government was also planning to recruit 13,933 English
teachers for this purpose.

Earlier, when replying to the Senator Zaitun Mat's original question on the
number of expert English teachers placed in rural schools, Mohd Puad said that
as of today, there were 9,293 excellent teachers in various grades and expertise
nationwide.

"Of the total, 954 are English teachers and 622 of them are placed in
secondary schools and 332 are in primary schools, both in urban and rural
areas," he added. (US$1=RM3.52)
-- BERNAMA