The Government of Punjab, in partnership with EnglishHelper, has launched The English Edge, a large-scale English learning initiative aimed at improving English proficiency and employability for 750,000 students across 3,600 government schools over the next three years.
The program will be rolled out in three phases, starting with Phase I, which covers 500 schools and 300,000 students across all 23 districts of Punjab. Targeting Grades 9 to 12, the initiative promotes inclusive and equitable access to English education, recognizing its importance for higher education, career opportunities, and social advancement.
EnglishHelper has been engaged with Punjab schools since 2013, initially through a pilot program that expanded in 2015 in collaboration with USAID. In March 2021, the Punjab Government formalized its commitment by signing a Memorandum of Understanding with EnglishHelper to scale the program, focusing on all secondary and senior secondary schools over three years. To date, approximately 150,000 technology-enabled classes have been conducted, significantly enhancing students’ reading and comprehension skills.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Deepak Verma, CEO of EnglishHelper, said: “We are excited to scale our proven learning solutions across Punjab at an unprecedented level. This program addresses all four pillars of language acquisition, listening, speaking, reading, and writing, through a seamless combination of AI-powered self-learning and teacher-led instruction. Our goal is to equip students not only with language skills but also with the confidence and competence to thrive in an increasingly interconnected and competitive world. We see this as a model that can transform English learning across India and beyond.”
This state-wide initiative reaches all corners of Punjab, equipping students with essential English communication skills for today’s competitive job market. The program uses a blended learning model using EnglishHelper’s solutions, integrating self-learning through Reading & Comprehension Assistant with curriculum-aligned classroom instruction using ReadToMe. It is underpinned by learning science, supports low-resource environments, and is aligned with NEP 2020’s vision of foundational literacy, equitable access, and technology integration. EnglishHelper, in partnership with the Punjab Government, is mobilizing resources for the program through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives and philanthropic contributions.
The Punjab Government and EnglishHelper partnership shows how government–industry collaboration can advance educational equity. This large-scale initiative serves as a model for similar efforts and highlights the role of corporate social responsibility in education. This collaboration sets a benchmark for scalable, tech-driven education in Punjab, aiming to bridge opportunity gaps and prepare students for success on a global stage.
