With thousands of Punjabis queuing up to pass the much coveted IELTS (International English Language Testing System) test every month to realise their dreams of a life in developed countries, the Punjab state government has decided to start its own training program to equip students to take the English challenge- which many find quite daunting- head on.
The Punjab government’s program, also called IELTS – Interactive English Language Training for Students – is aimed at improving the English language skills of government school students in year 11 and 12, The Tribune reports.
IELTS training is a multi-million dollar industry in the state of Punjab due to the insatiable urge of the Punjabis to settle in English speaking countries.
Bindu Gulati, Assistant Director of the State Council of Education Research and Training told the publication that the new course will help students’ chances with the IELTS test.
Students of classes 11 and 12 at 1,000 government schools will be able to avail this training free of cost, starting November this year.
Ms Gulati said the education department has 46 especially-trained teachers who underwent a special IELTS teaching course in Canada four years ago. These teachers are training more teachers in the subject.
Tens of thousands come to Australia alone as international students every year and many more head to Canada, UK and New Zealand, chasing their dreams.
The state government’s move comes at the back of a massive crackdown against dodgy and unlicensed travel agents and IELTS training businesses that saw nearly two dozen operators arrested.
Due to a rising number of incidents of people from the state falling prey to people smugglers in their urge for a life abroad, the state government passed a law to regulate the immigration consultancy, IELTS training and related occupations in the state. The law made it illegal to operate these businesses without registration and a licence.
