Foreign Language Classes to Begin in Pune Zilla Parishad Schools; Teachers to Be Trained in German and French

Pune, 4th August 2025: In a first-of-its-kind move to enhance the global readiness of rural students, the Pune Zilla Parishad (ZP) has partnered with Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) to introduce foreign language education as an extracurricular subject in government-run schools.

The initiative, which begins this month, will initially focus on German and French, with 100 selected teachers from across the district set to undergo intensive training starting August 15.

“Our goal is to prepare students for opportunities beyond traditional boundaries. Foreign language skills can open doors in sectors like global business, tourism, research, and manufacturing,” said Sanjay Naikde, Primary Education Officer of Pune ZP.

Under the programme, students from standards VI to VIII in selected schools will eventually be taught foreign languages by teachers trained through this collaboration. This marks a significant expansion of language learning, which until now was largely limited to private or urban institutions.

Training Programme Details
Each teacher will complete a 120-hour training module, designed and delivered by expert faculty from SPPU. The sessions will be conducted primarily online, with a few in-person interactions to ensure hands-on engagement. All training expenses will be covered by the Zilla Parishad, and no cost will be borne by the teachers.

A special digital learning module has also been developed to assist in both teacher training and classroom implementation. For the first phase, the ZP has earmarked a budget of ₹6 lakh.

“We’ve already received strong interest from schools. In the initial rollout, priority will be given to institutions where students express enthusiasm for learning foreign languages,” Naikde added.
Expanding Horizons for Rural Students
This initiative is expected to bridge the rural-urban gap in education and help students from ZP schools compete more effectively in the global economy.

If the pilot phase proves successful, the ZP administration plans to expand the programme to more schools and possibly include additional foreign languages in future phases.