Islamabad (GNP): The British Council has announced the South Asia TeachingEnglish Online Conference 2026, a free three-day virtual event bringing together educators, researchers, and teacher trainers from across the region to discuss how schools can better equip students with the creativity, adaptability, and communication skills needed for today’s evolving world.
Scheduled for July 23–25, 2026, the conference arrives at a time when education systems throughout South Asia are working to balance curriculum requirements, testing pressures, and shifting student needs. While English remains an important pathway to academic and career opportunities, many educators are looking to move beyond language instruction alone to also build critical thinking, collaboration, and greater student engagement in the classroom.
Regional Focus
The event will feature speakers from Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, focusing on creativity as a driver of deeper learning. Sessions will explore how classrooms with multiple languages can become more inclusive, how student voice can be encouraged through new teaching methods, and how technologies like artificial intelligence can support — rather than replace — teacher-led instruction.
Through keynote presentations, discussions led by practicing educators, and real classroom case studies, attendees will learn how teachers across South Asia are addressing shared challenges with solutions tailored to their local contexts. The program will highlight practical strategies for creating more engaging classrooms and expanding learning opportunities for students from a range of backgrounds.
Comments from British Council
Ben Lawton, Deputy Director of the British Council Pakistan, said teachers play a central role in helping students reach their potential, and that the conference is designed to give educators practical tools, fresh approaches, and the chance to learn from peers across the region.
The event builds on the British Council’s ongoing work supporting teacher development in Pakistan, part of broader efforts to strengthen English language instruction and improve learning outcomes in schools nationwide. By connecting Pakistani educators with counterparts across South Asia, the conference aims to encourage the exchange of classroom practices that can be adapted locally.
Featured Speakers
The conference will bring together a diverse group of educators and specialists from across the region, including academic leaders, teacher trainers, curriculum developers, and researchers from Sri Lanka, India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Pakistan — among them experienced ELT consultants, government schoolteachers, Fulbright scholars, and specialists in areas ranging from digital learning and AI in education to inclusive, student-centered teaching methods.
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The British Council is the UK’s international organization for cultural relations and educational opportunities, working to build connections and understanding between people in the UK and countries around the world through arts, culture, education, and English language programs. Active in over 200 countries and territories, the organization reached 599 million people during 2024–25.
Sohail Majeed is a Special Correspondent at The Diplomatic Insight. He has twelve plus years of experience in journalism & reporting. He covers International Affairs, Diplomacy, UN, Sports, Climate Change, Economy, Technology, and Health.
