Charting the way: More than 400 educators, researchers and education leaders from 16 countries attended TNTELT 2025 in Melaka.
THE Education Ministry is in the final stages of preparing guidelines on the ethical and effective use of artificial intelligence (AI) in schools, affirming its position that technology should serve to enhance, not replace, the teacher’s role, says Education deputy director-general (School Operations) Zainal Abas.
Zainal, who was speaking at the launch of the inaugural International Conference on Teaching and Testing in English Language (TNTELT 2025) in Melaka last month, also shared that English was highlighted as a key language of instruction and connection in the recently unveiled 13th Malaysia Plan (RMK13).
“With curriculum reform and AI integration ahead, English language teachers must be ready not only to adapt, but also to lead in shaping a new generation of globally competent learners,” he said, lauding the two-day conference for its relevance in light of the RMK13 and the upcoming 2027 national curriculum.
He said this in a press release dated Aug 21 from ELS Language Centres (ELS) Malaysia.
More than 400 educators, researchers and education leaders from 16 countries attended TNTELT 2025, which was aimed at exploring the future of English language education amid rapid technological advancement and education reform, and to commemorate ELS’s 35th anniversary.
ELS is the only English training provider in Malaysia officially recognised by the Higher Education Ministry for university admission standards.
Supported by the Melaka state government, Just English, Universiti Putra Malaysia and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, the conference featured over 50 sessions, awards for outstanding presentations and PhD research, and hands-on workshops designed for real classroom impact.
From Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR)-aligned assessment to inclusive pedagogy and creative classroom practices, the conference bridged the gap between policy and practice – offering an international platform in a uniquely Malaysian setting.
The conference, said its chair Prof Dr Jayakaran Mukundan, brought together grounded, practical experience with visionary thinking.
Speakers and workshop leaders from Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Macau, Thailand and across South-East Asia shared insights on emerging themes such as AI in classroom teaching and testing; storytelling as a tool for language learning; world Englishes in curriculum design; and ethics in digital and standardised assessments.
Among the attendees were the Education Ministry’s English Language Teaching Centre (ELTC) director Noor Akmar Jais, CEFR adviser Prof Zuraidah Don, and curriculum division deputy director Sarina Salim.
ELS Malaysia managing director Sean Chee said there is a shift in how English is being taught – and why it matters.
“We wanted to create a space where government school teachers, ministry officials, university lecturers and private educators could learn and lead together,” he said.
