Bhubaneswar, Sept. 25 (UDN): A total of 1,741 errors and suggested corrections have been identified in Class I to VIII SCERT textbooks introduced during the current academic session, Odisha’s School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond informed the Assembly on Friday.
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Responding to a question from MLA Kalikesh Narayan Singh Deo, the minister said the issues have been documented through an official corrigendum that has already been circulated to schools.
Majority Were Language and Printing Errors
According to the minister, the identified issues include:
5 factual or conceptual errors
1,075 grammatical, typographical and spelling errors
661 suggestions for improvement
He said the textbooks had undergone preparation through workshop-based drafting, followed by proofreading and a one-day review by subject experts before receiving final approval from the Core Committee.
Corrections Issued to Schools
Among the significant mistakes detected were errors related to a photograph of the Odisha Legislative Assembly, the location of the Niyamgiri Hills, and the identification of the Konark Sun Temple.
The minister said a corrigendum containing the corrected information has been distributed to schools to help teachers and students refer to the revised content.
Officials Face Action
The government has taken disciplinary action over the lapses. The former Director of DTE & SCERT and three Assistant Directors have been suspended, while disciplinary proceedings have also been initiated against six other Assistant Directors of DTE & SCERT.
Measures to Improve Future Editions
Gond told the House that the department has initiated measures to strengthen the textbook review process and improve quality control before publication. He said future revised editions would place greater emphasis on ensuring the accuracy of Odisha’s history, geography, language and cultural heritage.
