Bhubaneswar: The Odisha’s State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) admitted errors in school textbooks for Classes I to VIII and announced corrective measures after criticism from all quarters.
Director Madhusmita Sahu said teachers will identify and correct mistakes during classroom teaching this year, while revised editions will be published from the 2027–28 academic session.
SCERT confirmed that textbooks supplied to schools contained factual inaccuracies, grammatical mistakes, unclear images, and printing flaws. Officials instructed District Education Officers to inform schools and guide teachers on corrections. For primary students, teachers will directly amend errors in books while teaching. For upper primary students, teachers will help children mark and correct mistakes themselves, making the learning process more participatory.
Sahu assured that future editions will undergo a thorough review to eliminate errors. She said the council has already initiated steps to ensure that textbooks published next year remain error-free.
Sources said the mistakes were not extensive but could affect classroom learning. Immediate instructions were issued to prevent disruption. Education experts welcomed the move, noting that the correction process will safeguard teaching quality and reinforce accountability in curriculum preparation.
Congress stages protest
Meanwhile, members of National Students’ Union of India of Congress staged a strong protest in Bhubaneswar on Thursday over the issue. The protesters attempted to gherao the official residence of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, demanding immediate correction and accountability. Police stopped the rally near the minister’s residence and detained several activists after they broke barricades and tried to enter the premises. Witnesses said the situation turned tense when protesters hurled eggs at the residence, prompting police deployment around the area.
Kalinga Sena files police complaint
Kalinga Sena lodged a complaint at the Capital Police Station here over the issue and urged authorities to take strict action against officials of the School and Mass Education Department responsible for the lapses. In the complaint filed by Kalinga Sena president Nirmal Biswal, the group alleged that the newly published textbooks contain factual inaccuracies, grammatical mistakes, unclear and incorrect images, incomplete descriptions, and multiple printing defects. Biswal said the errors have affected students’ learning and demanded immediate corrective measures.