A high level delegation of the British Council of India led by Mr. Alan Gemmell OBE, Minister Cultural Affairs, British High Commission and Director, British Council, India today called on Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema, Education Minister, Punjab at Punjab Bhawan, Chandigarh.Dr. Daljit Singh Cheema briefing about the meeting said that discussions were held on the various issues especially on the topic of how to improve the English teachers’ training and English language teaching. He said that during the meeting the positive outcomes and drawbacks of the earlier project executed by the Punjab Government in joint collaboration with the British Council were also discussed.Dr. Cheema further said that the motive of the visit was to discuss with the Punjab Government various modes and levels at which both the sides can collaborate to impart better training to the teachers in English subject and to develop a system of mentoring and Teacher Activity Groups for Secondary Teachers of English in Punjab.
The Education Minister asked Mr. Alan Gemmel to come up with detailed project report on this issue to impart the English Language Training to the teachers of Punjab based on the baseline survey and requirements of English teaching and learning in Punjab. Education Minister said that need based analysis need to be done to assess, the gaps and requirement of Teachers and Learners. In response to Education Minister’s request Mr. Alan agreed to conduct such study and come again with new proposals.Ms. Tanisha Thiara, Head, British Council, Chandigarh was also accompanying the British Council Delegation. Prominent amongst others who were present in the meeting included Mr. Anurag Aggarwal, Director General School Education, Mr. M.P. Arora, Special Secretary and senior officers of the Education Department.