SECOND LANGUAGE TEACHING AND LEARNING (Raising of standard)

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Home Affairs and Education what steps, if any, have been or will be taken by his Ministry to ensure that the standard and quality of the second language teaching are raised; and what steps his Ministry proposes to take to ensure that there are sufficient language teachers to meet demand.

Mr Chai Chong Yii (for the Minister for Home Affairs and Education): Mr Speaker, Sir, the results of second language performance in the Primary School Leaving Examination and the GCE O' and A' level examinations show improvement over the years. Nevertheless, programmes to train and upgrade second language teachers have been and continue to be conducted by both the Institute of Education and the Regional Language Centre. In addition, teaching guidelines are being prepared to accompany the second language syllabuses. Instructional materials in second language teaching and learning, resource materials, and ETV language programmes are also all being used in a concerted effort to improve the teaching and learning of second languages in our schools.

To ensure there are sufficient second language teachers, we have taken into account the projected needs in planning our programmes for the recruitment and training of these teachers. The resources of the Institute of Education and the Regional Language Centre will be made use of for these programmes.

Encik Mansor Haji Sukaimi: Sir, may I be allowed again to refer to Question 14, because I thought the Minister for Finance has not replied to the second part of my question?

Mr Speaker: Encik Sukaimi, I am afraid your question has been dealt with earlier in the Minister's answer to Question 1.