Consulate General of India, Houston to partner with HISD for the Hindi Dual Language Immersion Programme

The Houston Independent School District (HISD) is unique in the United States and in the State of Texas with over 200,000 students, 276 schools and encompassing over 300 square miles within the Greater Houston area.  It is the largest public school system in Texas and seventh largest in the United States with immense diversity amongst students and teachers.

HISD has consistently emphasized global education and dual language training as key factors for academic success in the 21st Century. Its commitment to bilingualism has led to opening of dual language programmes at over 50 schools. HISD currently has Dual Language Immersion Magnet School programmes in Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, and more recently, in Arabic, where participating students receive content instruction in these languages to develop full bilingualism and biliteracy.   

After running one of the longest Hindi language classroom programme for over 25 years at Bellaire High School, HISD Superintendent of Schools Mr Terry B. Grier has announced an ambitious programme to launch a Hindi Dual Language Immersion Magnet School Programme by next year - probably one of the first Hindi Language Immersion Programmes in the United States. Consul General Harish Parvathaneni met senior HISD officials including Mr. Daniel Gohl - Chief Academic Officer, Mr. Andrew Houlihan - Chief Human Resources Officer, Ms. Shonda Huery Hardman - Chief School Support Officer and Mr. Farhan Shah - Director of Global Education for HISD to express the appreciation and full support of the Government of India and of the Consulate to being a strong partner with HISD for the success of this new initiative. 

With a significant population of the Indian American community in the Greater Houston Area many of whom are Hindi-speaking, and the ever growing economic engagement between Houston and India, the proposed Hindi Dual Language Immersion Programme would help students not only be bilingual and bi-literate, but also opens a new cultural dimension to understand India - an ancient civilization and a modern country that is an important partner and friend of the United States. This will inculcate critical thinking and analytical skills, help students appreciate Indian culture and equip them with a marketable asset as they progress in their professional lives and careers.

Consul General Harish expressed his readiness to assist HISD with teaching and curricular materials and with an ongoing partnership to provide appropriate cultural milieu to the students of the proposed Hindi Dual Language Immersion programme.