Odisha’s School and Mass Education Department has swiftly responded to errors found in new school textbooks for Classes I to VIII. Commissioner-cum-Secretary N. Thirumala Naik assured that corrected versions will be provided to students promptly. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has set up a committee to address the errors and ensure such mistakes are avoided in the future.
The state government, following the Chief Minister’s directives, formed a committee led by the Development Commissioner to investigate the issues. Officials responsible for the errors have been identified based on the committee’s findings, and necessary actions have been initiated. Students from Classes I to VIII have already received their textbooks, and correction sheets will be provided to teachers for uninterrupted classroom teaching until revised textbooks are printed and distributed.
The department is conducting a thorough review of the textbooks with subject experts to identify any remaining errors. Corrected sections will be uploaded on the department’s website for feedback from teachers, educationists, and the public. After incorporating valid suggestions, error-free textbooks will be published and distributed to students promptly, Naik confirmed.
In response to the controversy surrounding the inclusion of the Hindi song “Nimbuda Nimbuda” in an Odisha school textbook, Naik clarified that the lesson focuses on music and the adaptation of traditional folk songs by contemporary musicians. The chapter aims to promote cross-cultural learning by showcasing how regional folk traditions achieve wider recognition through modern adaptations.
