Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Wednesday rejected reports claiming that the revised school textbooks contain errors, asserting that the allegations have “no factual basis” and clarifying that the textbook revision process is still underway.
The clarification came even as fresh discrepancies were reported in a Class I textbook.
In a post on its official X handle, the Department of School & Mass Education (SMEOdisha) said reports published by some media outlets alleging errors in the revised textbooks were baseless.
“Some media outlets are reporting errors in the revised textbooks. It is clarified here that there is no truth to the said reports. The revision of the textbooks is ongoing based on the opinions of various educationists and subject experts, and the revised books will be made available to the students soon,” the department said.
The government’s clarification comes amid growing criticism over alleged mistakes in school textbooks. On Wednesday, fresh errors were reportedly found in Jhulana-1, the prescribed textbook for Class I students.
According to reports, the book introduces the Odia alphabet in an unconventional sequence. It has also been alleged that in the state anthem, Bande Utkala Janani, the line “Ghana Ghana Banabhumi” has been printed as “Ghana Banabhumi”. Another alleged error relates to the spelling of the word “Utkala” in the national anthem printed in the textbook.
The latest controversy follows criticism over errors detected in other school textbooks in recent weeks, prompting the state government to initiate a review and revision exercise.
The department maintained that the revision process is being carried out in consultation with educationists and subject experts and that the final revised editions will be distributed to students only after the exercise is completed.
