Punjab IELTS Coaching Could Be Start in Colleges Curriculum

Punjab IELTS: The fervor for foreign education and employment has transformed IELTS coaching into a thriving industry in the state. Punjab currently boasts approximately 20,000 IELTS coaching centers, offering coaching and facilitating the test-taking process.

While the cost of the IELTS test itself is around Rs 16,000 per student, coaching charges vary from Rs 6,000 to Rs 20,000 per month per student. Nearly six lakh students from Punjab take English proficiency tests annually.

Punjab IELTS- Coaching

However, the financial burden of such coaching, coupled with the costs of migration, creates a significant challenge for many aspiring students. Political parties have promised subsidized IELTS coaching as a welfare scheme in election campaigns. In an effort to mitigate this burden, the Punjab government launched the ‘IELTS module’ five years ago in state-run schools. The module, now known as the ‘Intensive English Language Teaching System,’ emphasizes practical communication, enhancing students’ English language skills across listening, reading, writing, and speaking.

The curriculum focuses on teaching students to introduce themselves, speak on various topics, and express their thoughts coherently in English. The performance is assessed on a 9-band scale, mirroring the global IELTS certification.

Chetan, for instance, believes that the school module prepares him for the actual IELTS test, and he is ready to seek private coaching if needed.

Gurleen Kaur, another student in Punjab, finds the classes beneficial but has taken additional steps to improve her English skills. She engages with UK nationals through a social media app, following her cousin who migrated to the UK on a study visa.

Chetan and Gurleen are not alone in their foreign aspirations. The dream of moving abroad for education and employment is widespread in Punjab. Many Punjabi students see this as an opportunity for a better future and are willing to overcome linguistic and financial barriers to achieve their goals.

For Chetan and Gurleen, the linguistic barrier, particularly English proficiency, is a significant challenge. Chetan admits that he cannot yet articulate in English why he wants to become a chef or work in Canada. Nevertheless, he is determined to master the language and looks forward to the Interactive English Language Training for Students (IELTS) class in school.

The financial aspect is also a hurdle. The cost of migration ranges from 15 to 30 lakh rupees, making the dream of studying or working abroad seem unattainable for many.

One student, Husnmeet Singh, benefits from the IELTS module but has decided to stay in India after learning about the limited options available to those who migrate immediately after completing Class 12 without specialized skills. He aims to pursue engineering in India and enhance his English proficiency to improve his professional prospects within his homeland.

The IELTS module in state-run schools, initially criticized for encouraging youth migration, remains a valuable resource for students seeking to improve their English skills, a critical factor for success both internationally and domestically.

Punjabi speakers have historically scored lower on average in IELTS testing. According to recent data, Punjabi speakers had the lowest average band score of 5.8 among Indian regional languages in the test.

In Punjab, the IELTS module is now taught on various platforms, including EDUSAT, PM e-Vidya YouTube channel, listening labs in schools, and the Punjab Educare mobile app.

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