NEW DELHI, May 13: Students of the Kendriya Vidyalaya (KV) school, located in Leh of far flung Ladakh region, are now studying German, thanks to a project launched by the European country to spread the language in India.
The children are getting this opportunity under the project, ‘German in 1,000 schools’, which aims to take the language to all 1,090 schools of the KV association in India by 2017. At present, around 300 KV schools are participating in the project.
German Ambassador Michael Steiner today visited the Kendriya Vidyalaya school in Leh, and interacted with students and their teachers.
“We want to reach out to young, talented India, and ‘German in 1,000 schools’ is an excellent way to do this. I am impressed by the skills and enthusiasm of students learning German at KV, Leh. Foreign languages are not a burden, but an asset. The students I met at KV, Leh know that German language is a ticket to go global,” Steiner said.
The ambassador’s visit to the school is part of the German campaign launched at India Gate, New Delhi, on February 21 (the International Mother Tongue Day).
During his stay at the school, Steiner called up KV, Leh’s famous alumna and actress, Gul Panag, who spoke with the students via phone and encouraged them to learn the language.
“In an ever globalising world, foreign language proficiency is an asset. I am elated that my alma mater, the Kendriya Vidyalaya schools, along with the German Foreign Ministry, have chosen to introduce German.
“Apart from skill building of our workforce, this will go a long way in enhancing cultural, economic and strategic ties between India and Germany,” Panag said.
The German Foreign Office supports the project with 1,35 million Euros in 2012-13 and provides additional incentives for the students. The project is a joint initiative of the German government and Max Mueller Bhavan together with the KV administration. (PTI)
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