The Education Ministry has revealed that there’s a drop in the standard of written and spoken English by teachers in the country.

The Ministry recently introduced an English Proficiency exam and a job test for new teacher graduates during the school holidays, those that failed this may be forced to look for another job.

Education Permanent Secretary Iowane Tiko says new teacher graduates may lose their job if they fail the two exams provided by the Ministry.

Tiko says there’s a need to promptly address the issue of graduate’s poor English language skills.

“As we recruiting teachers there are a lot of applicants coming in and if someone fails the test he drops out of find employment somewhere else. For the teaching position we have set that benchmark, the English provision and the job test and two of the assessments that needs to be passed by anyone who needs to become a teacher so he /she needs to pass both of those before he can register with the Fiji Teacher Registration Authority.”

Tiko adds many graduates don’t understand the mechanism and the communication protocol of the ministry.

These exams will ensure graduates meet the standard required by the Ministry.

The Ministry is currently screening the job test exams that was sat by the new recruits and once it’s finalised than the numbers of the graduates will be confirmed.

Those that pass will be given their new teaching posts.