Many primary school teachers who should be proficient in Chinese perform only averagely, according to a survey presented yesterday.
Teachers majoring in the Chinese language did not necessarily have higher standards or know how to teach students in that language, the survey found.
Winnie Au Yeung, associate professor of the University of Hong Kong's Department of Curriculum Studies, said the findings were worrying.
Ms Au Yeung, who conducted the survey for the Advisory Committee on Teacher Education and Qualifications, said teachers should be trained how to teach in Chinese and Cantonese.
'Some people take it for granted that teachers who use Chinese must know how to teach in Chinese. This is not necessarily the case, and not even for the teachers who major in the Chinese language or who have taught for a long time,' she said.
In the survey, about 8,000 primary teachers were asked to compare their Chinese language abilities with those of other Hong Kong people.
Only 30 per cent said they had a higher standard. About 60 per cent said they were average.
