Bhubaneswar: BJD Supremo and former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Tuesday sharply criticised the BJP government in Odisha for the massive printing errors in school textbooks, saying it has shattered the sacred trust of lakhs of students.
In a social media post, Naveen Patnaik said school textbooks are not just books but the first source of truth for every child. “A child may question many things, but never the words printed in a school textbook,” he wrote.
“School textbooks are not just books. For every child, they are the first source of truth. A child may question many things, but never the words printed in a school textbook. Those words are an article of absolute faith and trust. Through textbooks, an entire generation learns not only facts but also builds faith in the system and trust in society”, read Naveen Patnaik’s post.
He further wrote: “When that trust is compromised, the damage goes far beyond a printing error. It strikes at the very foundation of our children’s future. The callous handling of school textbooks by the #Odisha BJP Government has betrayed that sacred trust. The victims are lakhs of students who are the future generation of Odisha- the torch bearers of tomorrow. By printing error‑ridden textbooks and then flip‑flopping on their withdrawal, we are shaking the very foundation of our children’s tomorrow”
He further stated that through textbooks, an entire generation not only learns facts but also builds faith in the system and trust in society. “When that trust is compromised, the damage goes far beyond a printing error. It strikes at the very foundation of our children’s future,” Patnaik added.
Accusing the BJP government of ‘callous handling’ and ‘extreme disregard’ for school textbooks, Naveen Patnaik said the repeated flip-flopping on error-filled books has weakened the foundation of children’s faith. He questioned who will take responsibility for shattering the trust of an entire generation of Odia children.
“The government may correct textbook errors in the next edition. But who will be held accountable for the endeavor to shatter the trust of our innocent students?” he asked.
The issue of serious printing errors in newly distributed school textbooks has been making headlines in the state, with opposition parties and parents raising strong objections.
