Communicative English course for WBCS officers held

Kolkata: Twentyfive probationary officers of the West Bengal Civil Services have undergone a communicative English course training conducted by the British Council, sources in it said today.

The course was part of the long-term objective of creating an international education hub in West Bengal, Director, British Council, East and Northeast India, Debanjan Chakrabarti said.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had in the past stressed on the need for all civil services officers in West Bengal to acquire a sufficient level of command over English.

The three-week training was held under the personnel and administrative reforms and e-governance department of the government, a British Council statement said here today.

It focussed on developing both spoken and written forms of communication of the participants to suit the needs of the 21st century workplace, it said.

The course materials were developed by British Council tailored to the needs of the participants and lessons were task-driven as the participants took part in group-based role-plays and discussions, as well as undertaking individual activities.

Chakrabarti said the course is the beginning of a fruitful partnership between the West Bengal government and the British Council Kolkata as envisaged by the chief minister.

"This is the British Councils 70th year in India and we are committed to create opportunities for learners with our internationally recognised assessments," he said.

The British Council and the Administrative Training Institute here have been holding the training course since 2017 and around 200 WBCS officers, including 25 officers of the latest batch, have received certificates so far, ATI Director General Sanjeev Chopra said.