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In a significant move to enhance English language proficiency and boost employability among youth, the Punjab government, in collaboration with EnglishHelper, has announced the launch of The English Edge, a comprehensive English learning programme targeting 750,000 students across 3,600 government schools over the next three years. The initiative will be rolled out in three phases, starting with Phase I, which will cover 500 schools and 300,000 students in all 23 districts of Punjab. The programme will be implemented in Grades 9–12, ensuring inclusivity and equitable access for learners. “It recognises English as a vital pathway to higher education, employment, and social mobility,” states the notice. EnglishHelper has been involved with schools in Punjab since 2013, starting with a pilot programme that expanded in 2015 in partnership with USAID. In March 2021, the Punjab govt signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the edtech organisation to scale its programmes with a focus on all secondary and senior secondary schools for a three-year period. Nearly 150,000 technology-enabled classes were conducted, enhancing students’ reading and comprehension skills, the official press release stated. Deepak Verma, CEO of EnglishHelper, said, “We are excited to scale our proven learning solutions across Punjab at an unprecedented level. This programme addresses all four pillars of language acquisition: listening, speaking, reading, and writing, through a seamless combination of AI-powered self-learning and teacher-led instruction. Our goal is to equip students not only with language skills but also with the confidence and competence to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and competitive world. We see this as a model that can transform English learning across India and beyond.” The programme employs a blended learning model using the edtech organisation’s solutions, integrating self-learning through Reading and Comprehension Assistant with curriculum-aligned classroom instruction using ReadToMe. It is supported by learning science, accommodates low-resource environments, and aligns with NEP 2020’s vision of foundational literacy, equitable access, and technology integration.
