Odisha Textbook Errors Spark Fresh Outrage
Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government faces renewed criticism after fresh errors surfaced in the Class I textbook Jhulana‑1, prescribed for English‑medium private schools.
The book introduces the Odia alphabet in an unconventional order, beginning with consonants like ‘ଚ’ instead of vowels such as ‘ଅ’, sparking concern among teachers and parents about potential confusion for young learners.
Adding to the controversy, the state anthem Bande Utkala Janani was misprinted as “Ghana Banabhumi” instead of “Ghana Ghana Banabhumi,” while the national anthem carried a spelling error in “Utkala.”
Parents also reported that many schools have not received printed copies, with only a 168‑page PDF version distributed—containing multiple mistakes.
This comes on the heels of over 1,600 errors detected in textbooks for Classes I–VIII, drawing sharp opposition from educationists and political leaders.
Parents are demanding an immediate review, correction of mistakes, and supply of error‑free printed textbooks to restore confidence in the state’s education system.
