After 1600 Textbook Mistakes, Fresh Errors Surface In Odisha’s Class 1 Odia Book | Education and Career News
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Teachers claimed that the textbook presents the Odia alphabet in an unusual order, beginning with the consonant “Cha” instead of the vowel “Aa”.
Parents have appealed to the government to rectify the errors and ensure that printed textbooks are supplied to students. (Image: Pexels)
Following reports of widespread errors in Odisha government school textbooks, fresh alleged mistakes have emerged in the Odia language textbook prescribed for Class 1 students studying in English-medium private schools. Although these schools are privately managed, the Odia textbooks used by their students are supplied by the state government, reported PTI.
The School and Mass Education Department has dismissed the allegations as “unjustified,” stating that the process of reviewing and correcting errors in textbooks is already underway.
The latest claims surfaced while the CID-Crime Branch of the Odisha Police is investigating large-scale mistakes reported in textbooks for Classes 1 to 8 in Odia-medium government schools. More than 1,600 errors, including spelling mistakes and incorrect references to prominent personalities, were reportedly found in 55 textbooks distributed by the department.
“Serious mistakes have been detected in the Odia textbook named ‘Jhulana-1’, in which there is a spelling error in the word ‘Utkala’ in the National Anthem,” teachers told PTI. They also pointed out an error in Odisha’s state song, “Bande Utkala Janani” (Hail Mother Odisha). According to a teacher from Jagatsinghpur district, the phrase “Ghana Ghana Banabhumi” (meaning a stretch of dense forests) is incomplete, with one occurrence of the word “Ghana” missing.
Teachers further claimed that the textbook presents the Odia alphabet in an unusual order, beginning with the consonant “Cha” instead of the vowel “Aa”. They said the sequence has caused confusion among both students and teachers.
Another concern raised by teachers was that the department allegedly distributed a 168-page PDF version of the textbook electronically to several schools instead of providing printed copies. As a result, parents were reportedly forced to print the document themselves for their children’s studies.
Parents have appealed to the government to rectify the errors and ensure that printed textbooks are supplied to students.
Meanwhile, the School and Mass Education Department rejected media reports about new mistakes in textbooks, calling the allegations “unjustified.” In a post on X on Wednesday, the department said corrections were being made based on suggestions from educationists and experts, and that revised textbooks would soon be provided to students.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has directed the CID to investigate the earlier reported errors in textbooks. He has also raised concerns that there may have been a “conspiracy” behind the publication of textbooks containing such mistakes.
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August 06, 2026, 12:53 IST
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