TOEFL Mentorship Program and Formation of Oversight Committee Nomination of committee members

Government of Andhra Pradesh Department of School Education Samagra Shiksha - SIEMAT

Memo.No. SS-15021/8/2024-SAMO-SSA, Dated: 15/02/2024

Sub: Samagra Shiksha AP Quality Initiatives-Enhancing English Proficiency through TOEFL Exam and Global Employment Opportunities - Implementation of TOEFL Mentorship Program and Formation of Oversight Committee Nomination of committee members - Orders - Issued.

Ref:

1. G.O.Rt.No.57, School Education (PROG.II) Department, Dated: 21-06-2023

2. G.O.Ms.No. 72. School Education (PROG.II) Department, Dated: 14-08-2023

3. G.O. Rt.No.44, School Education (PROG.II) Department, Dated: 06-02-2024.

The Government issued orders for implementation of the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examination and certification for students from the Classes 3rd to 9th of Government Schools and also the entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ETS to formalize this initiative. And also measures have been taken to enhance English proficiency through the provision of Interactive Flat Panels (IPF), Smart TVs. and e-content, with dedicated daily periods allocated for TOEFL preparation.

Acknowledging the significance of bolstering listening and speaking skills, the initiative emphasizes exposure to global accents through mentorship. It is proposed to pair the students from Class 6th with mentors (with a male mentor assigned to male students and a female mentor to female students).

The preferences for selecting mentors are outlined as follows:

a) Preference is given to alumni of the same school.

b) If alumni are unavailable, mentors may be selected from the same village/town or district.

c) In the absence of local mentors, individuals from outside the district may be considered.

In line with the objectives of fostering mentorship, the School Education Department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh is collaborating with ShikshaLokam, a Bangalore-based NGO renowned for its expertise in mentoring programs, to establish a Mentoring Platform pro bono (Free of Cost).

The Director of the State Institute of Education Management and Training (SIEMAT) has been designated as the Nodal Officer for this mentoring program. ShikshaLokam proposes to pilot the program initially in 12 schools across the state for testing before its state wide rollout.

In this regard, a committee is formulated with the following members to oversee the TOEFL mentoring program and collaborate with the ShikshaLokam team.

Dear District Educational Officers

Subject: Implementation of TOEFL Program for Enhancing English Skills in Government Schools

I am pleased to inform you, an exciting initiative undertaken by the Department of School Education to enhance English listening and speaking skills among students in classes 6th to 9th in government schools through the TOEFL program.

Recognizing the paramount importance of expediting skill acquisition in listening and speaking, our initiative aims to expose students to global accents through mentorship. Within the framework of TOEFL implementation, mentors play a pivotal role in bridging gaps, providing invaluable guidance, and paving the way for students to navigate the intricacies of the TOEFL exam.

In alignment with our vision, the Principal Secretary has called upon all officials within the Department of School Education (DoSE) to adopt one student from the 6th grade and mentor them until they reach the 9th grade, guiding them towards successfully completing their TOEFL examination. Moreover, we are thrilled to introduce an innovative mentoring program across the state of Andhra Pradesh. Under this program, 6th-grade students (mentees) will receive guidance from volunteers from the NRI community, alumni, and professionals employed in IT and other sectors. These mentors will engage with students online through the MentorEd platform provided by Shikshalokam, a Bengaluru- based NGO.

To kick start this initiative, we have selected 27 schools across 26 districts, and a dedicated committee (copy attached) has been formulated to oversee the program's implementation. Therefore, I request all District Educational Officers to appoint a nodal person to ensure the effective implementation of the TOEFL mentoring program in all aspects. Please provide the details of the appointed nodal person to our office via email before 15-03-2024 in the following proforma.

Name of the District

Name of the Nodal Officer

Designation

Address

Phone No & e-mail ID

Thank you for your cooperation and commitment to the advancement of English language proficiency among our students.

Warm regards,

Director, SIEMAT, Samagra Shiksha.

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