Additional Deputy Commissioner Rayappa Hunasagi on February 20 inaugurated the Standardised Test of English Proficiency at the Prabuddha Academy centre on the outskirts of Kalaburagi city.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Rayappa Hunasagi inaugurated the Standardised Test of English Proficiency (STEP) at the Prabuddha Academy centre on the outskirts of the city on February 20. Addressing students, he emphasised that proficiency in English is crucial for career advancement and said the programme will help them overcome fear of the language and perform confidently in interviews.

STEP, a division of The Hindu Group, is an AI-powered, adaptive English language assessment and training platform launched in 2016.

Appealing to students to make full use of the initiative, Mr. Hunasagi said STEP will enhance communication skills, improve self-confidence, and open up better employment opportunities. Students from various schools who have enrolled in the programme were present.

In a significant initiative to strengthen employability and professional communication skills among youth, the Kalaburagi District Administration signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with THG Publishing Private Limited, publishers of The Hindu, Business Line, Frontline and Sportstar, for implementation of the STEP Blended English Learning Programme across the district.

Under the MoU, the 50-hour blended learning programme will be introduced in identified skill academies and technical institutions supported by the district administration.

The three-month online course will start with a simple test to check each student’s English level. It will then provide training in listening, speaking, reading and writing, along with basic grammar and communication skills for jobs.