English lessons for officials

PANDEGLANG, W. Java: English classes are now being given to third and fourth echelon officials of the Pandeglang regency, Antara reported yesterday.

The mastery of English will be taken into account in evaluating their overall performance, the news agency said, quoting an unnamed source.

Classes are held three times a week at a language laboratory of a state-run technical high school.

"We would like to get accustomed to the English language in anticipation of the globalization era. Sooner or later, they (the staff) will be required to be able to speak English," regency spokesman Ahmad Ambari quoted Pandeglang Regent Yitno as saying. (09)