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The Punjab government has commenced ‘The English Edge’, a large-scale English learning initiative that’s expected to reach 7.5 lakh students across 3,600 government schools in the State in the next three years. The intent was to empower students in government schools with world-class English communication skills, Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains along with Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab in-charge Manish Sisodia said, while launching the flagship programme in Amritsar. Currently, the ambitious programme had been rolled out to empower three lakh students in Classes 9 to 12 across 500 government schools in Punjab, equipping them with confident speaking, reading and thinking skills in English, besides enhancing their employability, and access to the global market, Mr. Bains said. Terming it a milestone under the ‘Punjab Sikhya Kranti’, a “mission to revolutionise Punjab’s education system”, Mr. Bains said the programme combined in-school digital reading lessons with home-based speaking practice. “Through guided reading, pronunciation support, and 10-minute practice sessions daily, it will help enhance comprehension and spoken fluency, empowering students to excel in English. The programme integrates classroom learning with digital technology to make English learning joyful, inclusive, and practical,” Mr. Bains said. The initiative is being implemented by the Punjab School Education Department in collaboration with EnglishHelper Technologies Private Limited. The tagline ‘Learn smart, speak sharp’ encapsulates the programme’s vision to help students evolve with the evolving world, think independently, and communicate confidently in every sphere of life, Mr. Sisodia said. The launch of the programme was a testament to Punjab’s commitment to a holistic education revolution, the AAP leader said.
