English shouldn't be optional, says Klub 500

Klub 500, an association of companies with more than 500 employees, is against the Education Ministry's proposal to allow headteachers of primary schools to decide which foreign language - English, German, French, Russian, Italian or Spanish - will be taught as the primary foreign language at their schools. Klub 500 executive manager Tibor Gregor stated that the move is unsystematic and will be harmful, citing the huge investment the state has already made in English education and the needs of the labour market, where English is the preferred language among employers. He also disputed the claim that the ministry decided to adopt the measure based on feedback from employer's associations. "They are the ones who have demanded that English should be compulsory," he stated. According to the ministry, however, primary schools would like a free hand in this matter, and if a pupil decides on a different language, English will become their secondary foreign language. Klub 500 has asked the ministry to re-evaluate the proposal and not to implement measures that will lower the quality of graduates. The change is set to come into force as of September.