DELHI: 160-hr course to boost Delhi govt school teachers’ English-speaking skills

DELHI: Delhi government is set to launch an intensive training course on English speaking for regular teachers of its schools. The aim of the course is to help the teachers enhance their English-speaking skills with 160 hours of classes and a certification exam at the end of the course.
The regular teachers who teach primary to senior secondary classes can apply for it till June 20. The course is also open to the principals and vice-principals of Delhi government schools.

“The Directorate of Education is presenting a unique opportunity to its teachers through an exclusive teacher empowerment programme.

It aims to develop and empower the existing oral communication skills of its regular teachers through intensive training in spoken English. DoE provides an opportunity for English as a medium of instruction for students in schools. Acquisition of communication skills in English is widely critical for teachers for prolific and engaging interaction with students,” said a circular.

The classes will be held two hours in a day either before or after the regular classes at designated centres within the districts. “Customised training content of 160 hours of enhancement of oral communication skills in English mapped to Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) will be created exclusively for the teachers by an external organisation of international repute,” added the circular.

All teachers trained under the project will individually undergo an international valid test and receive certification. Teachers placed in C2 and C1 levels of CEFR will be further trained as master trainers who will then conduct future training of students and teachers.

“Those who opt for this programme will also be invited to be part of Specialised School of Excellence, Delhi model virtual school, the core academic unit and Delhi Board of Secondary Education. They will be sent for national/international training, learnings and exposure visits,” the circular stated.

To encourage the teachers to enroll for the course, the DoE director, Himanshu Gupta, has also written a letter to them.