6-month certificate course offered in German Chinese, Korean, Arabic and Japanese
First batch of more than 1,000 students (grade 8-12) of various schools under the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) have started their six months certificate course in foreign languages such as Arabic, German, Chinese, Korean and Japanese.
In this regard, orientation in German and Chinese language was held at the Islamabad College for Girls (ICG) F-6/2 with National University of Modern Languages (NUML) resource persons.
In the first batch German, Chinese and Japanese language training has started, said an official of the Ministry of Education & Professional Training.
It is pertinent to mention here that the FDE had decided to introduce six-month courses to teach at least one foreign language to almost 1,500 students at select schools, with the help of the NUML and the NAVTTC.
The students will be taught these languages after school hours with funding from NAVTTC.
According to an MoU signed between the three stakeholders, the agreement would pave the way for introducing foreign language courses in schools. Federal Education Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and Education Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani had attended the MoU signing ceremony earlier this month.
The education ministry said that the languages would be taught at the “select schools/colleges” in the federal capital. The ministry said the initiative would equip students with foreign language skills, enhancing their global prospects and fostering cultural understanding.
Federal Education Secretary Mohyuddin Ahmad Wani said that the language courses were essential for students to obtain jobs abroad, adding that six months would be sufficient for students to learn about the fundamentals of a new language.
“For the first time, we are going to introduce these foreign languages. Perhaps, these students will earn graduate degrees in these languages in future,” he hoped.
“Every year we shall offer these courses to 1,500 students from class 8 to 12,” he said adding that for this year, if more than 1,500 students showed their interest in these programmes, the FDE would introduce criteria; otherwise, all applicants will be given a chance.
