By Our Correspondent
BHUBANESWAR:More than 1781 errors were found in the textbooks supplied from class I to VIII. To find out the truth about this insensitive and highly irresponsible incident, a delegation comprising Odisha Parents’ Association President Basudev Bhatt, Working President Prasanna Bisoy and General Secretary Ashok Paikaray met SCERT Director Ms. Madhusmita Sahu today.
During the meeting, she expressed her inability to resolve the serious problems related to printing and quality of school textbooks. She indirectly admitted that SCERT had made serious mistakes by appointing inexperienced people to prepare teaching-learning materials. The way SCERT has handled the publication of textbooks is highly questionable. The committee formed for content writing and proof-reading or correction of errors is inexperienced and incompetent. According to special sources, some private school teachers like Saraswati Shishu Mandir and some prominent workers of the RSS organization were given key responsibilities in this process. This incident is very deadly, smells of serious crime and suspicious conspiracy. More than 1781 errors and 700 errors have been identified in the eighth grade textbook alone.
The government has been giving strong emphasis on preserving Odia identity and Odia language, culture and pride. Such a large number of errors has become a black chapter in the history of Odisha education system. In the investigation of the incident cycle, former Director, SCERT, Shri Manoj Kumar Padhi and Secretary, Ms. Salin Pandit are directly responsible for this negligence and error. Immediate action should be taken against them. The Mahasangh has asked how the Development Commissioner can bring the departmental ministers, secretaries and senior officers under the ambit of investigation. This investigation order is only a religious eye-catcher.
There will be nothing in it. Therefore, the Mahasangh is demanding a judicial investigation under a retired High Court judge. So that a clear, independent and impartial investigation can be done within the stipulated time frame. Strict action should be taken against all the responsible officials and institutions so that such repeated mismanagement and negligence in the preparation and printing of school textbooks is not repeated in the future. Therefore, the Mahasangh has written a letter today demanding an immediate judicial investigation by the Chief Minister and a High Court judge.
