NDMC to convert its schools to English medium

Earlier,the NDMC had converted Navyug schools into English-medium schools. “While we have been taking initiatives such as introducing English as a language from Class I since 2004, teaching Mathematics in English started in 2008,” a senior NDMC official said.

Officials believe that teachers at NDMC schools are ill-equipped to meet the demands of students and parents,who opt for English-medium schools. “The switch to English will be a slow process,and only students who want to be taught in English would be given the option. Otherwise,Hindi medium will continue,” said Tajdar Babar,vice-chairperson,NDMC.

After examining various alternatives,the NDMC arrived at an agreement with the British Council to train teachers in English. “The department proposes to utilise the services of the British Council for providing teachers’ training. The budget for training 450 teachers has been estimated at Rs 60 lakh…,” she said.

To enable teachers to teach the current curriculum in English,training at three levels — assistant teachers (Grade 1 to Grade 5),trained graduate teachers (grades 6-10) and post-graduate lecturers (grades 11-12) — will be monitored by a UK consultant.

A series of methodology courses,which would enable NDMC teachers to transform the system into English medium,will be prepared by the NDMC and British Council,the official said.