Delhi and British Council collaborate for skill development, promotion of art and culture

The Delhi government Tuesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the British Council to create more learning opportunities for students and teachers of its schools, officials said.

The MoU was signed by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia and Director British Council India Alan Gemmell at a Delhi government school in West Vinod Nagar. British Council Chair Christopher Rodrigues and hundreds of students, teachers and officials were present on the occasion, they said.

The agreement will strengthen the partnership between the two sides in the field of education, English language learning, youth skilling, as well as art and culture, Sisodia told reporters here.

"We have been working with the British Council and this MoU will expand the scope of our engagements to skill development of youth and cooperation in art and culture as well," he said.

Gemmell said the British Council, celebrating its 70th anniversary in India, would be taking forward its journey for the next 70 years through the MoU.

"I have been delighted to launch this new partnership at a Delhi government school. We are inspired by the teachers and students of the school and by the ambitious vision of Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia for education across Delhi," he said.

In the existing partnership of the British Council with the Delhi government, spoken English courses are being offered in collaboration with Macmillan Education, impacting lives of about 12,000 children, a government release said.

It is working on a project called 'Hanging Minds Changing Moves' which incorporates elements of dance and cricket in physical education lessons to support gender equity in classrooms.

The project is being piloted in three Delhi government schools and would be expanded to other schools as well, it added.

(With inputs from agencies.)