Teachers are expected to decide soon whether they will sit the controversial language benchmark test or attend training courses.
Principals at all primary and secondary schools have been asked to estimate the number of language teachers who will meet the benchmark for English and Putonghua each year from now until the 2005/06 academic year.
They also have to say which mode - the test, training course or a combination of both - the teachers will take to meet the demands of the five-year plan.
The plan is to be submitted to the Education Department by the end of next month.
School head Nelson Lau Ming-ki, a member of the Union of Heads of Aided Primary Schools, said: 'How am I supposed to come up with a holistic five-year plan for my teachers? I'm already so tied up with education and curriculum reform.'
Under the policy, about 14,700 English-language and 4,000 Putonghua teachers have until 2005/06 to fulfil the benchmark either through assessment or by completing training courses.
