Odisha SCERT Textbook Errors: 1,741 Mistakes Found, Officials Suspended
Bhubaneswar: The School and Mass Education Department has uncovered 1,741 errors in SCERT textbooks for Classes I–VIII this academic session, raising serious concerns about the quality of educational material provided to students.
The review identified five major factual and conceptual blunders, alongside 1,075 grammatical, typographical, and spelling mistakes, and 661 formal suggestions for improvement.
Examples include mislabeling of Odisha Legislative Assembly photographs, incorrect geographical details about the Niyamgiri Hills, and misidentifications involving the Konark Sun Temple.
In response, the government has circulated a corrigendum to schools and assured immediate rectification.
Minister Nityananda Gond emphasised that stronger safeguards will be implemented to prevent such lapses in future editions.
Disciplinary action has already been taken: four officials, including the former Director of Teacher Education & SCERT and three Assistant Directors, have been suspended, while six more Assistant Directors face proceedings.
The incident underscores the urgent need for accountability and rigorous review mechanisms in Odisha’s education system to safeguard the integrity of learning materials.
