The Education Bureau (EDB) today (March 27) announced the arrangements regarding the enhanced Language Proficiency Requirement (LPR) for English and Putonghua teachers of primary and secondary schools with effect from the 2024/25 school year.
From the 2024/25 school year onwards, the written and speaking assessments of the Language Proficiency Assessment (LPA) will be replaced by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) (Academic Module) and the Test of Proficiency in Putonghua conducted by the State Language Commission. For the specific requirements, please refer to the EDB Circular Memorandum No. 74/2024. The Classroom Language Assessment (CLA) conducted by the EDB will be continued and its application details will be released on the EDB website in due course.
With the implementation of the enhanced measures, the written and speaking assessments of the LPA jointly conducted by the EDB and the Hong Kong Examinations and Assessment Authority will cease to be offered from the 2024/25 school year. Teachers who have attained the relevant results in the written and speaking assessments and the CLA of the LPA and met the LPR will continue to be recognised.
The LPR policy has been implemented since 2000. The purpose of the policy is to enhance the quality of education by ensuring that all English and Putonghua teachers possess at least basic language proficiency. The policy has been implemented for over 20 years, and the overall language proficiency of English and Putonghua teachers has been improving. Taking into account the concerns from the education sector and stakeholders, the latest trends of education development, students' learning needs and schools' needs for deployment of human resources, the EDB has reviewed the arrangements of the LPR policy and formulated enhanced measures.
For more details about the LPR policy, please visit the EDB website (www.edb.gov.hk/lpr).
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