VietNamNet Bridge – The director of the HCM City Education and Training Department has announced its decision to institute a new integrated English teaching curriculum for general school students. The curriculum, he said, is being developed in cooperation with the UK Ministry of Education.

The UK’s Consulate General in HCM City, however, has denied any such cooperation.

Douglas Barnes, the Consul General of the UK, released a statement on Monday denying the existence of any cooperation agreement between the UK’s Ministry of Education and HCM City on building up an English teaching curriculum for the city’s students.

Barnes affirmed that there has been no agreement between the UK Ministry of Education or the country’s examination council with the HCM City Education and Training Department or with EMG, the partner of the program, on providing a curriculum, documents and the quality of the teaching program.

He also said there has been not any contact between the UK Ministry of Education and the HCM City Education and Training Department on the issue.

The integrated curriculum mentioned by the education department, according to Barnes, is the national curriculum of England and Wales. It is available on the internet and free of charge for all institutions and individuals to access.

Quality education in the UK is ensured by a teacher training system and quality monitoring programs carried out by many different government agencies.

Prior to that Barnes’ statement, at a press conference held on June 23, Le Hong Son, Director of the HCM City Education and Training Department]stated that the English teaching program to be applied in the near future was compiled with the cooperation of the UK Ministry of Education.

Under the program, students will be taught English, math and science in English in accordance with the integrated curriculum, while the UK examination council will supervise the teaching and serve as one of the units to grant certificates to students.

Son said the program kicked off in December 2011, following working sessions between HCM’s education department and the UK Ministry of Education.

Last Saturday, the education department sent dispatches to districts’ education sub-departments, informing them of the program

A representative of EMG, contacted by VnExpress, maintained that EMG has the necessary proof that the integrated English program was developed with the cooperation of the UK examination council.

However, the document presented by EMG only states that EMG may use the curriculum. It does not suggest that the competent agencies of the UK would supervise, accredit or join in the development or management of the integrated English curriculum.

Do Minh Hoang, Chief Secretariat of the HCM City Education and Training Department, has confirmed the statement about cooperation with the UK Ministry of Education. He said the department would report the case to HCM City authorities.

VNE