The school textbook controversy in Odisha has taken a political turn after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) joined students protesting against errors in books for Classes 1 to 8.
CJP co-convenor Saurav Das reached Bhubaneswar on Monday as part of the party’s ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign. He visited government schools and also met members of the Navnirman Yuva Chhatra Sangathan (NYCS), which has been protesting over the textbook issue.
The CJP has supported the students’ demand for accountability and called for the resignation of Odisha School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond.
CJP visits schools in Bhubaneswar
During his visit, Das inspected government schools in and around Bhubaneswar and spoke to students and protesters.
He also visited a government primary school in BJB Nagar as part of the CJP’s school campaign, which focuses on checking basic infrastructure and facilities in government schools.
Das said the CJP would support the ongoing student movement and called for responsibility to be fixed over the textbook mistakes.
The organisation’s intervention comes as the NYCS continues its protest and demands changes in the state’s education system.
What is the Odisha textbook controversy?
The dispute began after a large number of errors were reportedly found in textbooks used by students from Classes 1 to 8.
Officials have said 1,678 errors were identified across 55 textbooks. The reported mistakes include factual, printing and typographical errors. Some examples included incorrect information about geographical locations and images being used with the wrong descriptions.
The issue has triggered criticism from student groups and opposition parties, who have demanded accountability from the education department.
Students plan Assembly protest
The NYCS has been holding a ‘Satyagraha’ over the textbook issue and has demanded the resignation of Minister Nityananda Gond.
The group also announced plans to protest outside the Odisha Assembly on September 22 as the Assembly session began.
The protesters are seeking corrections to the textbooks, reforms in the education system and accountability for those responsible for the errors.
Government starts distributing corrected books
The Odisha government has already started taking corrective measures.
The School and Mass Education Department said revised textbooks, after necessary corrections, were being distributed to students in Classes 1 to 8. The distribution began in several districts and was expected to continue across the state.
The government’s move has not, however, ended the student protest, with NYCS continuing to demand accountability from those responsible for the errors.
CJP expands school campaign
The Odisha visit is part of the CJP’s wider ‘School Thik Karo’ campaign, under which its members have been visiting government schools in different states and raising concerns about infrastructure and basic facilities.
With the CJP now backing the Odisha students’ agitation, the textbook controversy has gained another layer of political attention as the state government works to replace the error-filled books.
