State board’s factual jumble in textbooks rattles students
Conflicting information on energy resources has been provided in class X social science and science & technology textbooks, which are published by the state education board
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, February 05, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009020520090205022842638a7dfbd57)
Contradictory facts about the same topic, energy resources, in two different state board textbooks has baffled class X students, who are preparing for final examinations begi
nning March 17.Students don’t know whether they should memorise the facts mentioned in social science textbook or science & technology textbook.
The textbooks have been published by the Gujarat State Board of School Textbooks, which recently claimed that it had rectified errors in its publications. “There is a chapter on energy resources in social science and science & technology textbooks. However, conflicting information has been provided in the books,” Jatinder Bhalla, the mother of a class X student, said. Bhalla said that she stumbled upon the anomalies while helping her daughter memorise some answers.
Ahmedabad Mirror analysed both the textbooks, and found that some facts were shockingly contradictory. For instance, a paragraph on page 107 of the science & technology textbook reads: “In 1867 AD in India the first oil well was dug in Makkum in the district of Dibrugarh in Assam.” In contrast, a paragraph on page 110 of social science textbook reads: “The very first oil was dug at Naharapong in Assam in 1866. Later in 1867, oil was found from Makum in Assam at the depth of 36 metres.”
Another paragraph on the same page of the science & technology textbook reads: “50% of total Indian cr
ude oil is obtained from Gujarat only.” However, a paragraph in the social science textbook reads: “Gujarat and Assam produce 18% and 16% of the total quantity of oil, respectively.” Ahmedabad Mirror also found two more contradictory facts in the same chapter of the textbooks.
“How can there be so many mistakes in the textbooks published by the state board?” Bhalla enquired. “They (state education officials) keep emphasising on quality education. Is this what they have in store for students? Though contradictory, students will mug up these facts because they want to clear the exams. However, they will flounder when they take competitive exams which are conducted to test students’ knowledge.”
A class X student, Ashwin, said that he had memorised answers provided in both the textbooks. “Generally, teachers check answersheets of those subjects that they teach in classroom. To avoid losing marks, it’s better to mug up facts mentioned in both the textbooks,” he said. The first editions of the textbooks were published in 2006. Incidentally, the name of Gujarat University Vice-chancellor Parimal Trivedi has been mentioned under the list of subject advisors in the science & technology textbook.
When AM contacted the director of state textbook board, Madhu A Patel, he said that he would check the textbooks for errors. “We have made several changes to our textbooks after academicians and concerned citizens pointed out errors and anomalies. If there are errors in class X social science and science & technology textbooks, we will rectify them, too,” Patel said.
By Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, February 05, 2009 (Ahmedabad Mirror : http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20City§id=3&contentid=2009020520090205022842638a7dfbd57)
Contradictory facts about the same topic, energy resources, in two different state board textbooks has baffled class X students, who are preparing for final examinations begi
nning March 17.Students don’t know whether they should memorise the facts mentioned in social science textbook or science & technology textbook.The textbooks have been published by the Gujarat State Board of School Textbooks, which recently claimed that it had rectified errors in its publications. “There is a chapter on energy resources in social science and science & technology textbooks. However, conflicting information has been provided in the books,” Jatinder Bhalla, the mother of a class X student, said. Bhalla said that she stumbled upon the anomalies while helping her daughter memorise some answers.
Ahmedabad Mirror analysed both the textbooks, and found that some facts were shockingly contradictory. For instance, a paragraph on page 107 of the science & technology textbook reads: “In 1867 AD in India the first oil well was dug in Makkum in the district of Dibrugarh in Assam.” In contrast, a paragraph on page 110 of social science textbook reads: “The very first oil was dug at Naharapong in Assam in 1866. Later in 1867, oil was found from Makum in Assam at the depth of 36 metres.”
Another paragraph on the same page of the science & technology textbook reads: “50% of total Indian cr
ude oil is obtained from Gujarat only.” However, a paragraph in the social science textbook reads: “Gujarat and Assam produce 18% and 16% of the total quantity of oil, respectively.” Ahmedabad Mirror also found two more contradictory facts in the same chapter of the textbooks.“How can there be so many mistakes in the textbooks published by the state board?” Bhalla enquired. “They (state education officials) keep emphasising on quality education. Is this what they have in store for students? Though contradictory, students will mug up these facts because they want to clear the exams. However, they will flounder when they take competitive exams which are conducted to test students’ knowledge.”
A class X student, Ashwin, said that he had memorised answers provided in both the textbooks. “Generally, teachers check answersheets of those subjects that they teach in classroom. To avoid losing marks, it’s better to mug up facts mentioned in both the textbooks,” he said. The first editions of the textbooks were published in 2006. Incidentally, the name of Gujarat University Vice-chancellor Parimal Trivedi has been mentioned under the list of subject advisors in the science & technology textbook.
When AM contacted the director of state textbook board, Madhu A Patel, he said that he would check the textbooks for errors. “We have made several changes to our textbooks after academicians and concerned citizens pointed out errors and anomalies. If there are errors in class X social science and science & technology textbooks, we will rectify them, too,” Patel said.
