The Odisha government has announced a public feedback initiative concerning the revised digital versions of textbooks for Classes 1 to 4. Citizens will have a seven-day window to review the amended books and to provide additional suggestions for improvements. This decision follows the identification of 1,678 factual, typographical, and printing errors within the previously introduced educational resources intended for the 2026-27 academic year.

The corrected drafts of the textbooks have been made available for review via the official websites of the School and Mass Education (SME) Department, the Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA), and the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT). Stakeholders, including teachers, parents, students, and the public, are encouraged to send their feedback through email or via the Vidya Samiksha Centre helpline during this consultation period.

Details of the Error Corrections

This initiative follows the government’s commitment to rectify the inaccuracies identified in the textbooks prepared by SCERT. N Thirumala Naik, the Secretary of School and Mass Education, previously announced that the amended books would first be made available to the public before finalisation. The department has assured that all suggestions submitted during this feedback period will be thoroughly evaluated prior to the final approval of the textbooks for publication.

Once the consultation process is complete, printed versions of the corrected textbooks will be distributed to schools to ensure that classroom instruction remains uninterrupted. This move is intended to mitigate any potential disruption to the educational schedule despite the earlier controversy.

The significant number of errors found in the textbooks has drawn considerable attention and criticism across the state. The government has taken steps to address concerns raised by various stakeholders regarding the quality and accuracy of educational materials.

Continuing Controversy Surrounds Textbook Issues

In response to these findings, the state government has implemented actions based on recommendations from a high-level inquiry committee led by Development Commissioner D K Singh. Four senior officials have been suspended, and disciplinary proceedings against six others have been initiated due to alleged shortcomings in their roles concerning the textbook errors.

The government has reiterated its commitment to providing students with new, error-free textbooks once the revision process is completed. The emphasis is on ensuring that quality education is upheld and that students have access to accurate and reliable educational materials.

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