Andorra Approves First External English Competency Audit for 628 Students
Digital tests by Cambridge University Press will assess primary pupils orally and secondary students across all skills, aiding policy improvements and multilingual goals.
Key Points
- Andorra approves first external English audit for 628 students in 2025-2026.
- Primary pupils (288) tested orally; secondary (340) on all skills by Cambridge University Press.
- Contract worth €17,376.26 to assess teaching quality and support multilingual policies.
- Aids education policy improvements and student skills for future studies and jobs.
The Andorran government approved on Wednesday an external evaluation of English language competencies for 628 students at the Escola Andorrana during the 2025-2026 school year, with digital tests set for 15-22 May.
This marks the first such external audit to measure English teaching quality across the system, reinforcing the role of English in academic, professional, and cultural spheres amid broader multilingualism goals. Primary pupils in their final year—288 students—will be assessed solely on oral skills, while the 340 secondary students in their last year face exams in all four areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
The Council of Ministers awarded the contract to Cambridge University Press Iberia, an international leader in English assessment, for €17,376.26. The diagnostic tests aim to provide data for shaping education policies and driving improvements.
Government spokesperson Guillem Casal emphasized the evaluation's value in revealing national teaching standards. He noted it ensures students gain skills vital for future studies—particularly abroad—and job opportunities. "It's a benefit to all students to confirm they acquire the best possible skills," Casal said.
The assessment offers an initial overview to pinpoint adjustments, with openness to future audits or other external tools. It fits the Ministry of Institutional Relations, Education, and Universities' strategy, alongside upcoming PISA tests for over 300 secondary students.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources: