Lucknow: Armed with specially designed interactive books, the Uttar Pradesh government is all set to introduce English as a subject from Class 1.

"Come July 7 and over 40 lakh (4 million) students of class 1 in different primary schools across the state will start learning English in an interactive way," Director Basic Education D.C. Kannaujia told IANS.

He added that the interactive books on English were being sent to all the government-run schools in various districts of UP and by July 7 the entire process will be over.

The prescribed English textbook will offer cartoons, colourful pictures and other illustrations to the students to make learning interesting and enjoyable, officials said.

The State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT) has designed the English textbooks. "Through the colourful books carrying cartoons and other pictorial representations, we aim to attract students that in turn will initiate an interactive learning process," Director SCERT Achla Khanna said.

Going by the recommendations of the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT), state chief minister Mayawati last May decided to introduce English from Class 1 from the 2008 academic session. Earlier it was taught from Class 3 in government-run schools.

The state government had reasoned that Class 3 was too late to introduce a language, keeping in mind the social background of the majority of students. IANS