Punjab Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains launches ‘The English Edge’ to help 3 lakh students in 500 schools master English and global communication skills.
Punjab Education Minister S. Harjot Singh Bains, along with Aam Aadmi Party Punjab Incharge Sh. Manish Sisodia, 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 audience at Guru Nanak Dev University in Amritsar, S. Bains stated that this ambitious program is currently being implemented 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, as well as increasing their employability and access to the global market.
S. Harjot Singh Bains described the initiative as a watershed moment in Punjab Sikhya Kranti, a mission to transform the province’s education system. The program mixes in-school digital reading courses with home-based speaking practice. Guided reading, pronunciation guidance, and daily 10-minute practice sessions would all help to improve understanding and spoken fluency, empowering students to flourish in English. The program combines classroom instruction with digital technologies to make English learning enjoyable, inclusive, and practical.
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The effort is being carried out by the Punjab School Education Department in conjunction with English Helper, a worldwide EdTech company that has worked in numerous Indian states to promote English proficiency and linguistic confidence, he said.
The Education Minister emphasized that, while mother tongue is important, English ability is essential for pursuing global chances. To prepare students for success in today’s fast-paced world, we’re offering ‘The English Edge’ curriculum, which aims to bridge the language gap and empower them to succeed in a worldwide environment.
This curriculum supplements ongoing reforms such as the Entrepreneurship Mindset Curriculum, Drug De-Addiction Curriculum, and Business Blasters curriculum, which are all meant to make Punjab’s classrooms hubs of innovation, communication, and critical thinking. S. Harjot Singh Bains added, “Punjab’s students are brimming with talent and potential.” This flagship program will give every child, regardless of background, the ability to confidently express themselves in English. This program is more than simply about language skills; it is about unlocking Punjab’s future. Under Chief Minister S. Bhagwant Singh Mann’s innovative leadership, we’re guaranteeing that every child in government schools has the confidence and skill to flourish on the global stage, on an equal footing with anyone else.”
Sh. Manish Sisodia praised the Punjab Government’s initiative, saying that the motto “Learn Smart, Speak Sharp” captures the program’s objective of helping students adapt with the changing world, think independently, and speak boldly in all aspects of life. The commencement of the program demonstrates Punjab’s commitment to a comprehensive education revolution. Punjab invests in its most valuable asset—its children—by empowering its youth with language skills. This effort will open up innumerable chances in higher education and the worldwide job market, ensuring that Punjab’s potential is not only local, but global.
He said that the program takes a holistic approach to learning, moving away from rote memorization and toward critical thinking, expressive speech, and practical communication skills.