KARACHI, July 16: There is an urgent need to train teachers especially from the public sector schools, colleges and varsities in the latest English Language Teaching (ELT) approaches and methodologies. This was stated by the Sindh Minister for Education and Literacy, Dr Hamida Khuhro, while speaking as chief guest at the third international seminar on “Language, Culture and Identity: Issues and Challenges”.

The two-day moot is being held under the auspices of the Centre of English Language, Aga Khan University.

English language teachers and educationists from Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, India, Syria, Malaysia and Britain are attending the moot.

The minister pointed out that the importance of English had been recognized at national, regional and global levels.

She said that global trends in education, technology and business suggested that English as a world language would play a significant role in the years to come.

Dr Khuhro was of the view that rapid spread of English had serious implications for all developing countries of the world including Pakistan while the role of English for access to higher education was undeniable.

She said that English as a medium of instruction in higher education in Pakistan demanded the introduction of efficient and suitable English language programmes which provided language support to students with limited English proficiency on the basis of access and equity.

The minister believed that there was an urgent need to train teachers in the latest ELT approaches and methodologies to enhance proficiency of their students.

She further pointed out that to improve quality of English it was equally important that the teachers at all levels keep abreast with the latest developments of ELT.

Dr Khuhro added that all these steps were being taken under the aegis of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) through the National Committee on English.

Such awareness and training for teachers is not limited to higher education only and it is being addressed even at the primary level, she pointed out.

The government realizes the challenges faced by the language planners in education and is doing everything it can, to plan policies to meet our national interests as well as the demands of the global economy, Dr Khuhro added.—APP