Recently, Beijing Municipal Party Committee Party School held a
public English test for more than 2,000 officials from the Party,
government organizations, public institutions and enterprises. It
is reported that the test, consisting of three parts -- listening,
reading comprehension and writing -- is no easier than the College
English Test 4 (CET4) and that some questions are based on those
used by the International English Language Testing System (IELTS).
According to the 2001 to 2005 education and training program for
Beijing officials, bureaucrats above the rank of section chief and
under the age of 45 should have a solid grasp of using computers,
and over half of them should have a basic command of at least one
foreign language. In order to promote Beijing's economic
development, show leadership in the drive toward modernization and
advance the path of internationalization, the municipal Party
committee held a public English test for officials. The program
aims to comprehensively improve the quality of officials and
fulfill its promises to the international community after Beijing's
successful bid for the 2008 Olympics and China's entry to the
WTO.
Of
the officials taking the exam, the oldest examinee was over 40
years of age, while the youngest was just 22. One hundred and
twenty four participants were above the rank of vice division
chief. A girl named He Jing of the Babaoshan sub district office,
located in western Beijing's Shijingshan district, the youngest
examinee to sit the test, said that she had just graduated from
university and that the test was a good inspiration for her to keep
learning English. Teacher Zang, 30, of Gucheng middle school, has
been pregnant for several months, but she also came to take the
exam. She said, with many schools conducting bilingual education
nowadays, it's becoming more important for teachers to improve
their levels of English.
Officials started taking the public English test in 2000. The
difference this year was that the test was extended to officials
with a college level of education or above and under 45 years old,
from the Party, government organizations, public institutions and
enterprises, including managers from public institutions and
enterprises as well as working professionals. In addition, the test
took signatures from both collective and individual volunteers.
Altogether 2,682 officials signed up for the exam, of which 1,274
were civil servants and 1,175 were individual professionals.
Deputy Director Shi Shaojie for the Organization Department of the
Beijing Municipal Party Committee described the test as forming an
example for the whole city, and will further establish a positive
atmosphere for Beijing officials studying English and lay a solid
foundation for fulfilling training and education abroad.
(China.org.cn by Li Xiao, December 4, 2002)