Bhubaneswar, July 27: Leader of Opposition in the Odisha Assembly and Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president Naveen Patnaik on Monday demanded the resignation of School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond, holding him morally responsible for the large number of errors found in newly published school textbooks.
Speaking to mediapersons, Patnaik said the minister should accept responsibility for the alleged lapses and step down from his post. He asserted that the mistakes in textbooks had affected thousands of students and raised serious concerns about the quality of educational material being provided in government schools.
Patnaik also urged Gond to follow the example of former Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, stating that public representatives should uphold accountability in matters concerning students’ education.
“School and Mass Education Minister Nityananda Gond should resign. There have been a number of mistakes in the textbooks for students in our state. He should follow the example of Dharmendra Pradhan and resign from the post. This is what the BJD has been demanding for the last two to three weeks,” Patnaik said.
The BJD chief’s remarks come amid an ongoing controversy over errors detected in textbooks prescribed for students from Classes I to VIII. According to reports, more than 1,600 mistakes have been identified in the newly printed books, triggering widespread criticism from Opposition parties, educationists, parents and other stakeholders.
The issue has sparked a political debate in Odisha, with the Opposition alleging negligence in the preparation, review and publication of the textbooks. Critics have argued that such errors could adversely affect students’ learning and undermine the credibility of the state’s education system.
The controversy has also prompted calls for a thorough inquiry into the textbook publication process and accountability for officials involved in preparing and approving the educational content. The Opposition has indicated that it will continue to raise the issue until corrective measures are taken and responsibility is fixed for the lapses.
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