Governor emphasises balance between English skills and mother tongue preservation in tribal schools

Hyderabad: Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla has stressed the importance of equipping students with strong English language abilities without compromising their ties to mother tongues and indigenous cultural practices.

The Governor made these comments while addressing participants at the English Proficiency Programme for teachers employed in Tribal Welfare Educational Institutions. On Friday, he presented certificates to 50 educators who had completed the fortnight-long training module at Lok Bhavan.

The English and Foreign Languages University (EFLU), based in Hyderabad, had organised the capacity-building initiative to enhance pedagogical skills among instructors working across Tribal Welfare Residential Educational Institutions.

Speaking at the event, the Governor commended both EFLU and the Tribal Welfare Department for implementing the training scheme. He highlighted that when teachers develop greater competence in English, their classroom instruction becomes more effective. This, in turn, enables learners to build self-assurance and gain improved pathways to tertiary education and career advancement.

The two-week programme brought together 50 teachers alongside five faculty members from EFLU. Lok Bhavan contributed Rs.12.80 lakh from the Governor's Discretionary Fund to support the venture. The Governor observed that educators are instrumental in shaping student outcomes and that programmes focused on professional development can help address educational disparities in tribal communities.

Reaffirming Raj Bhavan's dedication to advancing tribal education and welfare, the Governor underscored that contemporary learners require competencies suited to an interconnected global landscape. However, he emphasised that this must occur alongside the preservation of regional languages and the traditions of tribal communities. He congratulated the programme participants and encouraged them to utilise their newly acquired skills to enhance learning for their students.

The event was attended by Special Chief Secretary to the Governor M. Dana Kishore, EFLU Vice-Chancellor Prof. Nagaraju, Joint Secretary K. Shashikirana Chary, and Associate Professor Dr. Raja Ram.