The Minister for Education, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum has apologized to teachers and parents of students for the recent statement given to the media by the Permanent Secretary of Education, Iowane Tiko regarding the results of an English Proficiency test taken by teaching applicants.

Sayed-Khaiyum says the statement is incorrect and the test was not administered on the basis of pass or fail.

He says the main purpose of the assessment was to provide a benchmark data to help measure the effectiveness of professional development programmes that will be carried out throughout the year.