To impart quality and world-class education to youngsters of the state, the Punjab Government has initiated a new idea to impart IELTS coaching through Govt Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) in synergy with Cambridge University Press India. Cambridge University Press India is a subsidiary of the Cambridge University Press UK, which is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge and develops and publishes educational courses and instructional materials. In a function held here to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the University, the Technical Education and Industrial Training Minister Punjab Rana Gurjit Singh said that around 6 lakh Punjabi Students have undergone the IELTS preparations every year and this is the need of the moment to explore new educational avenues for our students. He said that the initiative aimed to create an ecosystem in the state where the potential of our students could flourish in a world-class way. He said that India has the largest young population in the world and needs distinctive education.
The Cabinet Minister said that the MoU included a teacher training program for trainers through an authorized test center and the University will provide the teaching module as well as the material and teaching partners. ''Punjab is a leading migration state of India with a very widespread diaspora, known for its hard work and entrepreneurship. They have established themselves in many countries of the world, where the numbers of those moving to live, work or study is increasing day by day. We want to explore how they can also be better trained in English or other foreign languages before their departure so they may easily be able to get jobs and join the workforce once they arrive,'' he added.Rana Gurjit Singh specifically mentioned that the Punjab Government is very pleased to be the first state to sign an MoU with Cambridge University Press India for providing coaching & training of IELTS to the youth of Punjab in Govt ITIs and Govt. Polytechnic Colleges across Punjab. We have set up Foreign Study and Placement Cell in Punjab to facilitate the migration of youth through legal pathways to foreign countries through a very robust system of District Bureaus of Employment and Enterprise (DBEEs).This MoU will provide an opportunity to the approximately 40000 young aspirants to get coaching & training of IELTS in the govt. technical institutes in Punjab through well-trained and certified trainers. Cambridge University will conduct an IELTS test for all English teachers in Govt ITIs and Polytechnics and those who will get 8 Bands in the IELTS examination will be nominated for IELTS coaching. This will save the youth from getting duped by private IELTS trainers charged a hefty amount of fees and also their trainers are not qualified and specialized.
Terming the MoU as a historic moment for Punjab, he added that the department has also decided to draft a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for all private IELTS Centres for setting up, accreditation and management of English language training centers. Underscoring the need for framing the SOPs to regulate ghost immigration consultants, stop fake marriages and control biometric appointment issues in Punjab, he added that the Punjab government is committed to providing the youth of state moving to foreign lands a legalized framework through which they move abroad without falling prey to sharks who are trying to mint money by fulfilling their dreams through illegal way. He said that no stone will be left unturned for ensuring that youth don’t get exploited in hands of fake and illegal travel agents.Notably, the strategic collaboration between Cambridge University Press and the Department of Technical Education & Industrial Training, Government of Punjab aimed to help the region’s students achieve, improve and prove their proficiency in English for studying overseas or for work. The initiative will give students in Punjab access to high quality learning content from Cambridge both in print and digital formats. Additionally, it will offer trainers quality training programmes as well as Teaching Certification from Cambridge.On this occasion Managing Director, Cambridge University Press India Mr. Arun Rajamani, Advisor to CM Govt. of Punjab (Skill Development & Technical Education) Dr. Sandeep Singh Kaura, Secretary Technical Education & Industrial Training Vikas Garg, Director Technical Education & Industrial Training Pradeep Kumar Agrawal, officials from the Govt. of Punjab and delegates from Cambridge India were present.