Macau citizens could be rewarded with at least MOP1,000 for getting certified by internationally recognised language institutions under the latest encouragement scheme, the Talent Development Committee (CDT) announced yesterday.
Acting as the first attempt to encourage citizens to obtain recognised certificates and qualifications, the scheme initiates language learning, which covers certification in Mandarin, Hanyu, Portuguese and English.
Interested citizens may take Putonghua Shuiping Ceshi (PSC) for Mandarin tests offered by the Chinese State Language and Writing Commission, the Chinese State Education Commission and the Chinese Ministry of Radio Film and Television, with the criteria to obtain the reward earning a grade B or better.
For Hanyu learners, the scheme recognises the Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi (HSK) examination offered by the Confucius Institute Headquarters (Hanban), with the criteria of Level Four or above.
Portuguese learners, meanwhile, can take the test provided by the Centre for Evaluation of Portuguese as a Foreign Language (CAPLE) for which scheme applicants must achieve DIPLE B2 or above to obtain the reward.
For English learners, General Training Test of IELTS and the Listening & Reading Test of TOEIC are the two recognised tests, with the criteria for the reward a rating of 7 for IELTS and 750 for TOEIC.
From November 1 to June 30, 2018 the scheme welcomes citizens aged 15 or above who have already signed up as a member of the Talent Information Registration online system.
According to Senior Advisor Consultant of CDT Lei Lai Keng, applicants could get MOP5,000 from all the designated examinations.
Qualifications for electricity and cooking
Lei said the committee is considering extending the reward scheme to qualifications relating to electricity and cooking, adding the scheme might attract some 1,000 applicants based upon previous statistics and data.
The Head of Division of Continuing Education of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau, Kong Ngai, noted that applicants could take designated tests or examinations anywhere in the world as the reward can be obtained via uploading requested documents.
When asked if test results come out after the scheme period, Kong affirmed that applicants could upload certificates or results in later terms, while saying that similar schemes will be rolled out in the future.
Meanwhile, Lei revealed that 8,000 citizens have registered on the Talent Information Registration online system since its launch in 2014.
