Just a few days after a spate of errors was flagged in SCERT textbooks, and Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi ordered the Crime Branch to initiate a criminal investigation, the school textbooks in Odisha have again come under the scanner. This time, the issues are not limited to spellings but have also extended to sequencing.
The major concern is the manner in which the Odia alphabet has been introduced. Instead of beginning with the vowel ‘ଅ’, the textbook starts with the consonant ‘ଚ’, followed by ‘ଟ’, ‘ମ’, ‘ଗ’, and ‘ର’. Fundamental vowels like ‘ଅ’ and ‘ଆ’ appear much later. The pedagogical error has invited criticism from educationists, who allege that the sequence is likely to baffle first-time learners.
Not only this, but mistakes have also been detected in significant patriotic texts. In the state anthem, “Bande Utkala Janani,” the line “Ghana Ghana Banabhumi” has reportedly been printed as “Ghana Banabhumi.”
Another spelling error has been flagged in the word “Utkala” in the national anthem printed in the book.
What has further fueled the situation is an alleged delay in receipt of textbooks, as many schools have yet to receive printed copies. Instead, families have been provided with a 168-page PDF version, which reportedly contains multiple errors.
Parents are seeking swift rectifications, a detailed review of the content, and the distribution of error-free printed textbooks.
Around 1,600 Errors Were Detected in School Textbooks from Class I to VIII
The recent controversy follows the state CM’s directions for a criminal investigation after the detection of over 1,600 language, factual, and printing errors in textbooks for students from Class I to Class VIII. The issue had already triggered sharp reactions from the Opposition, teachers, and education experts.
Now, with fresh mistakes surfacing in a Class I textbook, questions are once again being raised about the quality control and review process of school educational materials.
As the controversy intensifies, parents and educationists are demanding accountability and immediate corrective action from the concerned authorities. The focus has now shifted to the Odisha government’s response and whether revised, error-free textbooks will be made available before they affect young learners’ foundational education.