News
Polish national schools organisation adopts Cambridge ESOL exams
08 April 2011
Cambridge ESOL has signed an agreement with STO - the Association of Civic Schools - to offer Cambridge English exams in schools throughout Poland, working with Warsaw-based exam centre Lang LTC. This large-scale project will raise the profile of language education in schools for students and teachers.
“We're working really hard to improve the standards of language learning amongst children and teenagers in Poland.” says Arek Jaworski, Cambridge ESOL's Development Manager for Central Europe. “Many STO schools are already integrating Cambridge English tests in their curriculums and this collaboration will widen this reach further.”
The Executive Board of the Association of Civic Schools in Poland - which are made up of key representatives involved in the education sector - say the project is an important first step in a wider education initiative.
“Foreign languages open doors to development and give access to international education” says Anna Okońska, the Chair of STO. “Language education is one of our strategic aims for this year and we've now taken the first step in implementing this important programme.”
Under the project, existing STO teachers will be able to upgrade their teaching knowledge and train as Cambridge ESOL examiners at Lang LTC. There will also be preparation sessions for those taking part in a CLIL programme (Content and Language Integrated Learning) where staff can learn how to teach various subjects in English. Lang LTC, who will be responsible for administering Cambridge English tests in STO schools, welcomes the project.
Katarzyna Kieszkowska, the Chair of Lang LTC says: “We're really looking forward to providing schools with the support they need to deliver the Cambridge English exams to the students and teachers taking part. As Lang LTC has been cooperating with quite a few STO schools for some time now, we know their needs and how to assist them.”
The programme will also include various events such as inter-school language competitions for children, special educational projects and the school directors' foreign educational exchange.
