Editor
Collaboration between Assam Government, SEBA, and Jolly Phonics Aims to Enhance English Language Skills
Guwahati, Assam: In a recent tweet, Assam's Education Minister, Ranoj Pegu, unveiled an innovative approach to enhance English language education in schools. The new method, called "Phonics", aims to revolutionize the way English is taught in schools across the Kamrup and Kamrup-M districts of Assam. Pegu highlighted the collaboration between Samagra Assam, the Board of Secondary Education, Assam (SEBA), and Jolly Phonics from England in this groundbreaking initiative.
The tweet read, "We are introducing 𝐏𝐡𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐬, a scientific method of teaching English in Schools. @Samagra_Assam and SEBA, in collaboration with @Jolllyphonics, England, is conducting teacher training from today in Kamrup and Kamrup (M)."
With the joint efforts of educational bodies and Jolly Phonics, the program intends to bridge the gap in English language proficiency among students. The decision to adopt the innovative approach was based on the findings of various surveys, including the National Achievement Survey (NAS), which revealed that many students struggled with proper English pronunciation and writing skills, particularly in the early grades.
Phonics, a modern pedagogical technique, offers a systematic approach to teaching students how to read English with accurate pronunciation. In response to these findings, SEBA had initially piloted this approach in six schools within the Kamrup-M district in 2022, in partnership with Jolly Learning Ltd, UK.
Following the success of the pilot, the Assam government has now decided to extend the intervention to encompass 400 schools across the Kamrup and Kamrup-M districts, with 200 schools included in each district. This expansion marks a significant step forward in improving English language education in the region.
As part of this initiative, a two-day block-level teacher training program is scheduled from August 7th to 10th, 2023. The training aims to enhance teachers' pronunciation and reading skills, focusing on phonics, while also emphasizing writing skills for Grade-1 students. The training will be conducted in a non-residential mode at block level, targeting a total of 400 teachers from the selected schools.
The training will be conducted by experienced professionals, including representatives from Jolly Learning Ltd, UK, such as Komal Goenka, Shweta Modi, Dipti Shah, and Daksha Suryavanshi. The sessions will take place from 9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and will be closely monitored by various educational stakeholders, including the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and the District Mission Offices.
The allocation of funds to support this training has been confirmed, with resources directed to the District Mission Offices of both Kamrup and Kamrup-M districts.
The introduction of this innovative approach to English language teaching demonstrates Assam's commitment to improving the quality of education and enhancing students' language skills. The collaborative effort between educational bodies and international expertise holds the potential to reshape the way English is taught, ensuring a brighter future for Assam's young learners.