Teachers who fail the Language Proficiency Assessment will not be able to teach language subjects in the coming school year, Secretary for Education & Manpower Arthur Li says.

There were 450 teachers employed in 2001/02 who failed to meet the Language Proficiency Requirement. Under the new policy, they will not teach English and Putonghua in the new school year.

However, Mr Li said those who cannot meet the assessment can still teach other subjects.

Responding on whether those teachers can stay or have to quit, Mr Li said the decision depended on the needs and arrangements of each school.