CHANDIGARH: School teachers in Punjab will receive advanced training for up-gradation of professional skills in English language from eminent academicians from UK from October this year.

An assurance to this effect was given by Director British Council India and Sri Lanka Rod Pryde to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal who called latter at his residence late last evening. Pryde agreed to the proposal of the Chief Minister in principle to send different batches of 20 teachers to impart training to the school teachers in English language through a module course of six weeks.

Badal suggested that a group of English teachers would be selected from the colleges and the universities to be trained by the UK teachers as 'master trainers' to further impart training to the English teachers in the schools.

The Chief Minister urged Pryde to set up English language labs in few selected schools especially in the 'Adarsh Schools' in the state to upgrade the communication skills of English teachers, besides developing software for audio visual aids.  Badal also sought his cooperation to revamp the curriculum of English language to enable our students to compete globally.  He also expressed his willingness for students as well as teachers exchange programme to have better understanding about the intricacies of English language. Badal said that initially the state government would launch this pilot project in few government schools and later it would be extended to other schools in a phased manner.

He said that Punjabi youth had a tremendous potential for overseas employment but lacked in the communication skills which was of paramount importance today.  "Keeping in view the importance of English as a globally link language, it is a high time for our youth to be well equipped in this field so that they could be gainfully employment not only in BPOs at home but abroad also", said Mr.Badal.

Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Food & Supplies Minister Adesh Partap Singh Kairon, Finance Minister Manpreet Singh Badal, Education Minister Upinderjit Kaur, Media Advisor Harcharan Bains, Chief Secretary RI Singh and Secretary School Education KBS Sidhu. Pyrde was accompanied by Regional Director South India Chris Gibson and Head British Library Chandigarh Bipin Kumar.