Bhubaneswar: Members of Odisha Parents’ Federation on Monday launched a ‘Sikhya Satyagraha’ in Bhubaneswar, demanding the withdrawal of error-ridden textbooks supplied to govt schools for students of classes I to VIII.They also demanded that 25% Right to Education (RTE) provision for free education for students from economically weaker sections be extended from classes VIII to XII, and that vocational education be included under the govt’s free KG-to-PG education scheme.Federation member Prasanna Bisoyi said the satyagraha would continue until the error-ridden textbooks are withdrawn. The federation alleged that the large number of errors in the textbooks was an extremely insensitive and irresponsible lapse that had brought disrepute to the state. Describing the issue as serious and damaging, it termed the episode a ‘black chapter’ in the history of Odisha’s education system and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the error-ridden books.The federation questioned why the books had not yet been withdrawn despite the chief minister having reportedly directed their withdrawal. Its members urged the govt to withdraw the new error-ridden textbooks and allow students to continue studying from the old textbooks this academic year, while introducing error-free books from the next academic session.
