PETALING JAYA: The English Language Roadmap 2015-2025 is part of the implementation of the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 to reform English Language education in the country.
Launched in August 2016 by then education minister Datuk Seri Mahdzir Khalid, the roadmap for English Language education from preschool to university is aimed at producing an English language programme, comprising the English Language curriculum, teaching and learning materials, assessment, and teacher training, which aligns with international standards.
The standards are based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), which is a guide developed by the Council of Europe to gauge foreign language proficiency.
The guide lists six grades, with C2 being the highest and A1 the lowest.
There are two grades English language teachers need to attain in order to teach, based on the CEFR: C2 (the highest) or C1 (the second highest).
Both C1 and C2 grades mean that the individual is a competent user of the language and able to participate fully in both professional and academic life.
The CEFR target for preschoolers is A1 (beginner); primary school pupils A2 (basic user); secondary school students B1/B2 (independent user); post-secondary B2; and university students B2 or C1.
The roadmap was produced by the English Language Standards and Quality Council, which is made up of a panel of experts and the director of Cambridge English’s English Language Teaching Centre.
