Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs visits Access Center

February 3, 2010

Mumbai - Judith A. McHale, Under Secretary of State for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, presented certificates and made brief remarks at a certificate ceremony for English Access Microscholarship graduates from the Urdu-medium all-girls Anjuman-I-Islam's Saif Tyaib Girls' High School. Certificates were presented to 25 secondary school students who just started a two year course of extra-curricular English language study under the ECA-funded Access Program. Pratham, an India-wide education NGO, is the partner for this program. 

Also present at the program were Mrs. Najma Kazi, Principal of Saif Tyabji Girls' College, Mrs. Farida Lambay, a Senior Lecturer & Vice Principal at Nirmala Niketan College of Social Work and also Pratham Director & Founder, Country Public Affairs Officer Michael Pelletier and Mumbai Public Affairs Officer Lynne Gadkowski.

Ms. McHale is the former President and Chief Executive Officer of Discovery Communications. At Discovery, Ms. McHale launched innovative education and development initiatives in the United States and around the world, including the Discovery Channel Global Education Partnership, which provides free educational programming and technological support to more than a half million students at 200 schools and community centers throughout rural Africa, Latin America, and Eastern Europe. Under Ms. McHale's guidance, Discovery applied to its educational initiatives the same rigorous cultural sensitivity and locally-driven process that made its international business so successful.

With her past experience, Ms. McHale's participation at Anjuman Islam School underscored the importance the U.S. Government attaches to the Access Program and encourages students in their English studies.  This is the first year this program has been conducted at this school.

The English Access Microscholarship Program provides a foundation of English language skills to talented 14-to 18-year-olds from disadvantaged sectors through after-school classes and intensive summer learning activities.  The program gives participants English skills that lead to better jobs and educational prospects. Since its inception in 2004, over 55,000 students in more than 70 countries have participated in the Access Program.  Access classes are taught by trained teachers who use current methodologies of task-based, skills-oriented, learner-centered approaches to emphasize active learning.

In India, the Access Program started in 2004 in four locations.  To date, Access has expanded to 19 locations. India's two-year Access programs consist of at least 180 hours of English language instruction during each academic year and a 30-hour summer intensive program. Students also participate in enhancement activities which provide exposure to U.S. culture and democratic values and community service projects.