US English Access programme launched in Bihar

PATNA: As part of US-India collaboration in the areas of development and education, an American English language skill course was launched here today for students hailing from economically disadvantaged section of the society.

The US Consul General in Kolkata Craig Hall inaugurated the first ever English Access Microscholarship Programme (Access) programme in Bihar which is supported by the US Department of State.

The global programme through after-school classes would provide foundation of English language skills to talented students in the age category of 13-20 year hailing from economically disadvantaged background, the Consul General told the function.

The Access programme here will be managed by a non-governmental body Association for Promotion of Creative Learning (APCL).

A total of 100 bright students have been selected for the first course, a press statement from office of US Consulate General in Kolkata said.

Patron of APCL Vijay Prakash said that the 100 students have been selected from rural areas of Bihar who mostly belong to Below Poverty Line (BPL) category.

The US Consul General said the programme seeks to equip students with strong English skills that can lead to better jobs, educational opportunities and gain the ability to participate in and compete for future exchanges and study in the United States.

Since its inception in 2004, over 1,10,000 students in more than 80 countries have participated in the English Access Microscholarship programme, he said.

In India, the Access programme consists of 180 hours of English language instruction during each academic year and a 30-hour summer intensive course.

The students will be taught English by trained teachers who use current task-based, skills-oriented,learner-centred approaches to emphasis active learning, Hall said.

The US Consular General, on his first tour of Bihar also visited the American corner at Indian Institute of Business Management.