Flagship program to empower 3 lakh students in Grades 9 to 12 across 500 Govt schools in Punjab, says Harjot Singh Bains, 'The English Edge- Learn Smart, Speak Sharp’ to help students think independently & communicate confidently in every sphere of life: Manish Sisodia
Face2News/ Chandigarh/Amritsar
Marking a significant leap towards redefining the future of the state’s youth, Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, along with Aam Aadmi Party, Punjab Incharge Sh. Manish Sisodia, today launched 'The English Edge – Learn Smart, Speak Sharp', a flagship program to empower government school students with world-class English communication skills.
While addressing the gathering at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, S. Bains said that currently, this ambitious program has rolled out to empower 3 lakh students in Grades 9 to 12 across 500 government schools in Punjab, equipping them with confident English speaking, reading and thinking skills, besides enhancing their employability and access to the global market.
Describing it as a milestone under Punjab Sikhya Kranti, a mission to revolutionise Punjab's education system, S. Harjot Singh Bains said the program combines in-school digital reading lessons with home-based speaking practice. Through guided reading, pronunciation support and daily 10-minute practice sessions, it would help to enhance comprehension and spoken fluency, empowering students to excel in English. The program integrates classroom learning with digital technology to make English learning joyful, inclusive and practical.
The initiative is being implemented by Punjab School Education Department in collaboration with EnglishHelper, a global EdTech organisation that has worked across several Indian states to improve English proficiency and language confidence, he added.
The Education Minister emphasised that while mother tongue lays the foundation, English proficiency is the key to unlocking global opportunities. To equip students for success in today's fast-paced world, we're introducing'The English Edge' program, designed to bridge the language gap and empower them to thrive in a globalized landscape.
This program complements ongoing reforms such as Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum, Drug De-Addiction Curriculum, and Business Blasters Program, all designed to make Punjab’s classrooms hubs of creativity, communication, and critical thinking, S. Harjot Singh Bains added while stating, “Punjab's students are brimming with talent and potential. This flagship program will empower every child, regardless of background, to express themselves confidently in English. This program isn't just about language skills - it's about unlocking Punjab's future. Under Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann's visionary leadership, We're ensuring every child in government schools has the same confidence and competence to shine on the world stage, on an equal footing with anyone else."
Commending the Punjab Government's initiative, Sh. Manish Sisodia said that the tagline “Learn Smart, Speak Sharp” encapsulates the program’s vision - to help students evolve with the evolving world, think independently and communicate confidently in every sphere of life. The launch of program is a testament to Punjab’s commitment to a holistic education revolution. By empowering its youth with the power of language, Punjab is investing in its most valuable asset—its children. This initiative will unlock countless opportunities in higher education and the global job market, ensuring that Punjab’s talent is not just local, but global.
The program focuses on a holistic learning approach, moving beyond rote memorisation to foster critical thinking, articulate expression, and practical communication skills, he added.