Education Minister
Satisfied With English
Proficiency of Teachers
The ministro de
Educación Pública
(Education Minister),
Leonardo Garnier, said
yesterday that the
results of the Test of
English for
International
Communication (TOEIC) of
his teachers is not what
he had wished for,
however, they aren't so
bad.
The TOEIC is a test of
English proficiency used
as a standard for
establishing workplace
English writing skills
and spoken English
proficiency for
non-native
English-speaking
examinees to use English
in everyday workplace.
More than 4.5 million
people each year take
the TOEIC tests to
advance their careers.
Garnier spoke about the
testing to the Spanish
language daily, Al Día,
The minister said that
he had hoped for better
results but is not
concerned because though
the situation is not as
he had hoped, it isn't
that bad either.
Garnier added that less
than one percent of the
teachers tested are in
the lowest category,
which eliminates much of
the worry.
In addition to the
English testing, Garnier
spoke about the fact
that the 200 day school
year will not be met
this year, due to the
teachers strike that
lasted four weeks
shortly after the
beginning of the school
year.
The minister said that
the shorter school year
will not affect the
promotion of the "bachillerato",
a situation that many of
the students worried.
Asked of the cost of the
strike, the minister has
not answer, simply
saying that it would be
an economic exercise of
the imagination.
Asked whether he fears
that many students will
be using the excuse of
the teachers strike for
justify bad grades,
Garnier answered with a
confident "no", saying
that they are
statistical reports that
allow to know which
regions are weak and in
what subjects.
The minister said there
would have to be a
significant variation in
the behaviour of the
teachers, who would have
to all act in unison. "I
don't fear that to
happen", said Garnier.
The education minister
said that to make up
lost days due to the
teachers strike, some
schools have added a
half hour to each day
and in some cases giving
classes on Saturdays,
but it wont be enough to
make up for the lost
time. Garnier added that
some schools are taking
advantage and will be
holding classes during
the ninth grade exam
week, which this year
the exams will not be
held. |
