Free English tests for students / Ministry to pay for proficiency checks at public schools from 2012

n a bid to boost English skills among youngsters, the education ministry will allow students at a certain number of public middle and high schools to take English proficiency tests at government expense starting from the 2012 school year, it has been learned. Under the envisaged project, the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry will pick eight middle and high schools in each prefecture where students can take the Eiken and other English proficiency tests free of charge, according to ministry sources. The ministry will designate four of the eight as pilot schools where extensive English instruction will be provided, mainly by native speakers. It will then compare test scores of students between the two groups so it can improve the pedagogy at public schools to boost English skills among students overall, the sources said. (Yomiuri)