ISLAMABAD: Participants of a three-day international conference concluded here today underlined the need for redesigning English language syllabus at school and college-level to facilitate the teachers and students in developing their speaking and writing skills.

The participants from home and abroad emphasized that that English should be introduced and taught as language instead of a discipline of social sciences.

They noted that the way the English is being taught in schools and colleges is hardly helpful in overcoming language's bearers, being faced by the teachers and students.

The students even after reaching higher position in their particularly disciplines are often far behind in their practical life, due to lack of ability in English language.

The conference was arranged by the Society of Pakistan English Language Teachers (SPELT) in collaboration with the Department of English Language and Applied Linguistics, AIOU and Oxford University Press.

The participants said that all the stakeholders including the heads English departments in educational institutions should be involved in redesigning English language courses.

Eminent educationist and AIOU English Department Chairman Prof. Dr. Abdul Hafeez while presiding over the conference said that the AIOU is prepared to facilitate the SPELT to hold similar conferences at the University's regional campuses around the country. They may enter into formal agreement in this connection, he added.

Nearly 40 papers were presented during 16 working sessions of the conference, said Malik Tariq Mahmood, a local representative of the SPELT.

The conference's deliberations were highly productive as it provided an opportunity to the participants to share their experience and expertise on teaching and learning English language.

Dr. Hafeez in his presidential address further said the AIOU has always been on forefront in promoting the English language. It had the distinction of launching a first-ever post- graduate diploma course in 1978.

The concluding session was addressed among by Shahzreen Shah(Representative of British Council), Saima Afzal (Conference Coordinator), Dr. Muhammad Saeed Akhter (Programme Coordinator), Representative VistaBrainz, Sohail Ayub, Fayyaz Raja, Oxford.

APP