(From top) The error-ridden covers of the Class VI science textbook and a science chapter meant for Class V carried in the same textbook. Telegraph pictures

Kendrapara, March 13: Glaring errors have made their way into textbooks for Class VI students in government-run upper primary schools here. Teachers here are in for a rude jolt with books on science subject carrying chapters on literature for lower classes.

The Class VI textbook cover suggests it is a science subject, but contains Oriya literature earmarked for Class III students.The error-ridden books are extremely problematic for teachers, who are left to wonder whether to teach Oriya literature during science classes.

The cover says it’s a science textbook. But inside it, there is everything to suggest that it’s an Oriya literature book. The science textbook takes the shape of Ama Bhasa- Ama Sahitya (our language, our literature) with another cover.

The academic sections in the Class VI science textbook starts with a chapter titled Seyi mora priya janama bhuin (it’s my revered motherland), ironically meant for Class III students.

The errors do not end here. In the page-four of the error-ridden science book for Class VI students, there is a chapter titled Udhbida Ra Nama (Name of the plants).

The same chapter is being taught in the Class V students for science subject.

Besides these conspicuous discrepancies, the ‘contentious’ textbook is full mistakes, mostly in spelling.

The Orissa Primary Education Programme Authority (OPEPA) and state schools and mass education department are jointly discredited for the flawed and misleading textbooks.

The district wing of Sarva Sikhya Aviyana (SSA) shouldered the responsibility of supplying the textbooks for primary, upper primary and high schools across the district.

“Such blemishes highlight the carelessness of those in charge of preparing textbooks and publishing them. It is going to mislead both the students and teachers. After I found that science textbook was carrying Oriya literature chapters, I have begun crosschecking other textbooks for errors.

“Though I am yet to come across other major discrepancies, spelling mistakes are commonly noticed. The quality of printing is also not up to the mark,” said parent Rama Prasad Mohapatra.

“We have been verbally informed of the supply of error-ridden science textbooks for Class VI students. Neither the teachers nor the parents have lodged a written complaint regarding the supply of flawed textbooks. Still we are having adequate stock to replace the textbooks purportedly carrying major mistakes and inaccuracies”, said Gobind Chandra Pati, district inspector of schools.

It’s pertinent to note here that the schools and mass education department here had hogged the spotlight in the past for supplying error-ridden globes, a geographical learning tool, to government-run schools.