Bhubaneswar: The Odisha School and Mass Education (SME) Department has uploaded digital copies of corrected versions for Classes I to IV on official websites, inviting suggestions from educationists, experts, and the general public within seven days.
The revised drafts for primary classes have been made available on the websites of the SME Department, Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA), and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). Stakeholders can submit their views and suggestions via email at textbookscertodisha@gmail.com or through the Vidya Samiksha (Bidya Samiksha) Centre helpline number 18003456722.
SME Commissioner-cum-Secretary Dr N Thirumala Naik had announced on Wednesday that revised textbooks, incorporating necessary corrections, would be uploaded for feedback. “After considering all the suggestions and feedback received, the textbooks will be finalised and published,” he stated.
Until the printed versions are ready, corrected content will be shared with teachers to ensure uninterrupted teaching and learning.
The move follows the detection of a large number of factual, typographical, and printing errors in the SCERT-prepared textbooks for Classes I to VIII, introduced for the 2026-27 academic session in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Reports indicated around 1,678 errors across 55 new books, sparking public outrage and strong criticism from opposition parties like the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Congress. The BJD highlighted the scale of mistakes, while Congress demanded the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond.
Naik emphasised that the Chief Minister views the matter with utmost seriousness and has instructed the department to deliver completely error-free textbooks at the earliest. Errors are being thoroughly reviewed and verified with subject experts before finalisation, he stressed.
Following widespread criticism, Chief Minister Mohan Majhi directed the formation of a high-level committee under the Development Commissioner to investigate the lapses. Acting on the panel’s recommendations, he suspended four officials, including the former director of Teachers’ Training and SCERT, along with three assistant directors, and initiated disciplinary proceedings against six others.
According to official sources, this step, including public consultation, aims to restore confidence in the curriculum overhaul and ensure high-quality, accurate educational materials for students across the state. The final printed textbooks are expected to be distributed free of cost once the feedback process and revisions are complete.
