Chandigarh, July 19 (UNI) School teachers in Punjab will receive advanced training for upgradation of professional skills in English language from eminent academicians from UK from October this year.

In a meeting held at Punjab Chief Minister's residence last evening, British council India and Sri Lanka Director Rode Pryde agreed to the proposal of Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in principle to send 20 academicians from the UK to impart training to the school teachers in English language through a module course of six weeks.

Mr Badal said that a group of English teachers would be selected from the colleges and the universities of the state to be trained by the UK teachers as 'master trainers'. These trained teachers would further impart training to other english teachers in the schools, he added.

The Chief Minister urged Mr Pryde to set up english language labs in selected schools especially in the 'Adarsh Schools' to upgrade the communication skills of the teachers, besides developing software for audio visual aids.

Mr Badal also sought his cooperatrion to revamp the curriculum of english language to enable the students to compete globally.

The Chief Minister also expressed his willingness for students as well as teachers exchange programme to have better understanding about the intricacies of english language.

Mr Badal said 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.

UNI