Bhubaneswar: Amid controversy over the errors in the newly introduced textbooks for classes I to VIII in govt schools, Directorate of Textbook Production and Marketing (TBP&M) has clarified that a portion of the printing work for the 2026-27 academic year was entrusted to private presses due to extensive changes in the books.According to the TBP&M, the estimated expenditure on outsourcing the work for the 2026-27 academic year is about Rs 21 crore.The controversy erupted after a review of the 55 textbooks prepared by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) under the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) reportedly identified 1,678 errors.Responding to a complaint filed by a petitioner at the chief minister’s grievance cell over the large-scale printing mistakes, TBP&M said that the decision to outsource part of the printing work was taken with govt approval and out of operational necessity.The TBP&M said revised textbooks would be introduced from the 2026–27 academic session in accordance with decisions taken at a state-level committee meeting on May 21, 2025. Accordingly, SCERT prepared 55 textbooks under the new curriculum, compared to 46 in the previous academic year.According to estimates by Odisha School Education Programme Authority (OSEPA), a total of 2,98,29,273 textbooks were required for the 2026–27 academic session, up from 2.70 crore books last year. Most of the newly developed textbooks have a higher page count and require multicolour printing.The TBP&M explained that printing such a massive volume of books could not be completed solely through its in-house facilities. Consequently, following a govt decision, part of the work was outsourced to private printing presses.Meanwhile, the investigation into the lapses by a three-member panel, led by development commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh, is on. School and mass education minister Nityananda Gond has also held meetings with the panel.
