In a sharp attack on the ruling BJP government, former Odisha Chief Minister and BJD president Naveen Patnaik has accused it of gross negligence after hundreds of errors surfaced in newly distributed Odia-medium textbooks for Classes 1 to 8.
The books, prepared under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 framework, have left teachers, parents, and students stunned – and Patnaik is calling it a direct assault on Odisha’s language, culture, and the future of its children.
Patnaik, in a strongly worded statement on X, described the lapses as evidence of the BJP’s “irresponsible and careless attitude.” He highlighted issues such as misspelt names of prominent Odia figures, factual inaccuracies (such as referring to Ganjam district as “Brahmapur district”), and poor overall quality control. “Education is the backbone of life,” Patnaik said, adding that the BJP’s handling of the education system has completely collapsed.
ପ୍ରଥମରୁ ଅଷ୍ଟମ ଶ୍ରେଣୀ ଓଡ଼ିଆ ପାଠ୍ୟପୁସ୍ତକରେ ଶହଶହ ଭୁଲ ବାହାରିବା ବିଜେପି ସରକାରର ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଦାୟିତ୍ବହୀନ ତଥା ଖାମଖିଆଲି ମନୋଭାବକୁ ଦର୍ଶାଉଛି।
ପିଲାମାନଙ୍କୁ ଏ ସରକାର ଠିକ ସମୟରେ ପାଠ୍ୟପୁସ୍ତକ ଯୋଗାଇ ପାରୁନଥିବା ବେଳେ, ମିଳିଥିବା ପାଠ୍ୟପୁସ୍ତକରେ ବି ଅନେକ ଭୁଲ ବାହାରିବା ପିଲାଙ୍କ ପାଠପଢ଼ା ଆଶାକୁ ଭାଙ୍ଗି ଦେଇଛି।
ଶିକ୍ଷା…
— Naveen Patnaik (@Naveen_Odisha) June 17, 2026
Independent reviews and teachers’ associations have identified a staggering 1,678 errors across the books, with Class 8 alone containing 705 mistakes.
Examples include:
- Sir Isaac Newton described as a “great pilot” instead of a scientist.
- A photo of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly used in place of Odisha’s.
- Odisha’s sacred Niyamgiri Hills wrongly located in Jharkhand.
- The iconic Konark Sun Temple replaced by an image of Hampi’s Vittala Temple.
- Misspellings like “Gretest” for “Greatest” and “Dongaria” for the Dongria Kondh tribe.
The books were rushed out as an “experimental edition” for the 2026-27 academic session by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) and the Directorate of Teacher Education. Distribution delays already frustrated schools, but the errors have turned the rollout into a full-blown controversy.
School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond acknowledged “some printing and editing mistakes” due to the tight timeline but assured that corrections are underway, with teachers making manual fixes in the interim.
Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi has taken a firm stance, forming a high-level three-member committee headed by the Development Commissioner to probe responsibility. The panel must submit its report within seven days, after which strict action is promised.
BJD leaders, including spokesperson Lenin Mohanty, have been more scathing, labelling the textbooks a “national embarrassment” that undermines Odia language, literature, and cultural pride. They are demanding immediate withdrawal of the defective books, a high-level inquiry, and fresh error-free reprints to safeguard students.
As schools reopen amid the chaos, the episode has ignited broader debates on quality control in education reforms. Parents and teachers worry about the long-term impact on young learners relying on these foundational materials in their mother tongue.
Patnaik’s criticism taps into deep sentiments around Odia Asmita (Odia identity), a theme the BJP itself championed during elections. Whether this textbook fiasco becomes a turning point in Odisha’s education politics remains to be seen – but one thing is clear: the state’s children deserve accurate books, not experiments filled with errors.
The government now faces the urgent task of restoring trust before the academic year slips further into confusion.
