The Society for Testing English Proficiency, Inc. said Tuesday that it will continue to hold its "eiken" English proficiency test despite an education ministry decision to halt official recognition of the exam.
The Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology said Friday that it will suspend recognition of 21 technical examinations, including the English proficiency test, by fiscal 2005.
Shigeaki Okama, senior executive director of the testing body, told a news conference Tuesday that some TV programs erroneously reported the test would be abolished, causing confusion and misunderstanding among applicants and those who hold certificates.
The society runs tests over seven levels that cover listening, speaking, reading and writing ability. Since the society was established in 1963, more than 62 million people have taken the examination, the society said.
In recent years about 3.5 million people have taken the test annually -- about 80 percent of whom are junior high school and high school students, according to the society.