Cabinet nod for third intake

THE Cabinet has approved the third intake of a twinning programme for the bachelor of education in the Teaching of English as a Second Language (TESL) between teacher training institutes and foreign universities.

Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein said the approval was in line with the move to increase the number of English teachers who were not only fluent inthe language, but who could also grasp details.

“The ministry approved 500 students each for the first two intakes of the programme,” he said in a statement recently.

Hishammuddin said they would become the “model group” for other English teachers as well as Science and Mathematics teachers.

“We are certain that the quality of teaching and learning will improve with this approach, as will their overall performace in the English language,” he said.

The foreign universities involved under the twinning programme include Victoria University of Wellington, Auckland University, Canterbury University and Otago University in New Zealand, as well as Warwick University and Portsmouth University in Britain.

Hishammuddin said 10 teacher-training institutes, including those in Ipoh, Kota Baru and Batu Lintang, as well as the International Languages Teacher Training Institute, would be involved.
Those who aim to teach in primary schools will use the 1+2+1 model, whereby they will spend their first and final years in the teacher training institute, and the second and third years in a foreign university.

Those who will be teaching in secondary schools will follow the 3+1 model. They will spend the first three years in a foreign university and the final year back in the teacher training institute.
Students selected must attend and pass a foundation course before they can undergo the degree programme.

Hishammuddin said he was certain the programme would attract the best SPM school-leavers to take up teaching.