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India English made compulsory in Uttar Pradesh schools IANS Published: October 07, 2007, 00:05 Agra: The government of Chief Minister Mayawati has ordered children in all Uttar Pradesh government schools to learn English - a move aimed at increasing their employment potential. Mayawati has ordered English be taught from Class Two onwards at all state-run schools. All other subjects will continue to be taught in Hindi. "The level of English language has gone down in the state, reducing the job-hunting capacity of the students," an official of the basic education department said. The department has also been directed to ensure students from Class Six upwards listen to English news bulletins on radio and read English newspapers. Teachers have been told to train students to speak in English before the class begins. "Students should be encouraged to speak and converse only in English," the official said. The department, through its initiatives, hopes government school students will reach a standard similar to that of children studying in English medium schools, an education department official said in Agra. Equipped Schools are to have a separate room for English language teaching. It will be equipped with newspapers, radios, tape recorders and CD players. "The walls will have names of household consumption goods painted on them with pictures," the official added. "The introduction of English is part of the central government's Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan. The books have been published by central agencies for Class Two and Class Three and they are really good," social activist Roller Singh said. "Parents have long been demanding their children be taught English because growing job opportunities in the retail sector require good command of the language," added Hari Dutt Sharma, editor of School Prangan, a magazine for schoolchildren.
