Patna, Jan. 11: Students from the state, who aspire to become civil servants, will no more stumble over English because the government has decided to train their teachers to articulate themselves in the Queen’s language.
The state education department and British Council of India today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) under which the cultural unit from the UK will train schoolteachers to use English. The teachers will be better equipped to instruct their students on the nuances of English.
As part of the project, Bihar Language Initiative for Secondary Schools, experts from the British Council will first train 160 instructors. The training that began today will continue till May 4. These instructors will in turn train 4,000 teachers from across the state.
Sources said teachers who will benefit from training teach in senior classes.
The module for training was developed by the British Council after conducting an analysis of needs in five districts — Patna, Chhapra, Kishanganj, East Champaran and Madhepura.
The project will be implemented according to the needs.
After signing the MoU with British Council director Rob Lynes, education department principal secretary Anjani Kumar Singh said: “This initiative will focus on better communication in classrooms. It will not only make the teachers better equipped to train their students in English, it will also help them to use the language effectively in classrooms as well as daily life.”
The project will cover various aspects such as improving the conversation skills, mastery over grammar and augmenting vocabulary. It will also teach students about the ri-ght body language of teachers while addressing them. The programme will also make them aware of the correct pronunciation and accent.
The project will be complemented with radio and television programmes. It will also be advertised so that all stakeholders, including school principals, teachers and students, are aware of it.
Vocation training
The state education department signed an MoU with non-government organisation, Going To School, to impart vocational training to schoolstudents.
The scheme will focus on developing entrepreneurship skills among students.
Two teachers each from 1,000 schools would be chosen to be imparted vocational education to students.
