The Kalaburagi District Administration has joined hands with THG Publishing Private Limited, publishers of The Hindu and other titles, to launch the STEP Blended English Learning Programme. The MoU was signed on Friday by B. Fouzia Taranum, Deputy Commissioner of Kalaburagi, and Sai Krishnan G., General Manager, STEP Division of The Hindu Group. Officials including Preeti Chandrashekhar, Abdul Azeem, Nagubai Suryawanshi, and others attended the event. The program targets students in skill academies and technical institutes with the aim of improving their English proficiency and communication skills. Learners will take a 50-hour self-paced online course over three months, starting with an assessment to evaluate their skill levels. Training covers Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing plus grammar, vocabulary, and job-related communication. Along with online learning, trainer-led classroom sessions will run for 12 weeks. These include communication skills, workplace English, interview preparation, group discussions, presentations, and professional writing. Successful participants will be eligible for the STEP certification exam and a certificate showing their English level. THG Publishing’s STEP team will design the training, provide digital access, conduct tests, and support learners throughout. Orientation will be held for students and administrators for smooth implementation. This collaboration aims to raise career readiness and confidence among the youth of Kalaburagi district.