PETALING JAYA: Interim English Language teachers with a C1 level in the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) will be given permanent teaching positions after their term ends, says the Education Ministry.

       It said this also applies to interim teachers who began their term on April 22, 2019 and will end on April 21, after they have passed their interview with the Education Services Commission (SPP).

       It said they will be permanently appointed as Education Service Officers (PPP) Grade DG41.

       “Starting from 2022, the recruitment of new PPPs for the English Language option must take into account the candidate's English proficiency,” it said in a statement on Wednesday (March 9).

       The Ministry added that these candidates must be deemed “proficient” in English, equivalent to the C1 level in CEFR.

       At the same time, the Ministry said interim English Language teachers who did not achieve the C1 level with an appointment period ending this April will still be interviewed by SPP for the PPP Grade DG41 position in the near future.

       “However, they need to achieve CEFR C1 level during the probationary period, which is one to three years for in-service validation purposes,” it added.

       The Ministry said that this will directly increase the English Language proficiency of students based on the international CEFR standards

       “The Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 stipulates that every student who goes through the education system in Malaysia must be proficient and fluent in Bahasa Malaysia as well as proficient in English at the level of 'independent proficiency' as defined by the CEFR,” it added.

       The Ministry said it always strived to improve the competencies of English Language teachers.

       On this, Education Minister Datuk Dr Radzi Jidin said he hoped this resolution will help to further smoothen school operations, especially teaching and learning (PdP).

       On March 2, The Star ran a letter from the 2019 batch of interim English Language teachers that asked the Education Ministry to revisit the hiring criteria of making a Band 5 in the Malaysian University English Test (MUET) or C1 in the CEFR as the yardstick in measuring the ability of an interim teacher to teach.

       They also asked the Ministry to provide a viable resolution for teachers to either sit for the necessary examination or to filter aspiring candidates through an interview process.