DID YOU GET THE TEXT ?
A record number of mistakes in the Social Studies textbook of class 6 English medium has left around three lakh state board students in a fix and raised questions about the credibility and quality of education
Yogesh.Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, August 22, 2013
Yogesh.Avasthi
Posted On Thursday, August 22, 2013
(http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/article/2/2013082220130822022811621b711f454/DID-YOU-GET-THE-TEXT.html)
On one hand we spend crores to improve the learning of English in the state, on the other there are mistakes in imparting basic knowledge of English to impressionable minds
In the early morning, you are receiving newspaper in your hand everyday; by its you became aware of daily events and incidents. After sometime these events became past. We remember that time and date, when the same type of incident happened. The photographs and detail information are given in the newspapers what was happened in the past. We come to know the history by there photographs and information.”
Forgive us if reading the above passage has stumped you, shocked you or made you very angry. To put it straight, this is not our own creation, but the first paragraph of the first chapter, ‘Sources of Knowing History’, from the Social Science book of class 6 (first semester) of the state board. Almost every second line in every page has grammatical mistakes, spelling errors and even Gujarati words in the 52-page textbook for English medium students, according to Rakesh Kapoor, Mirror reader and a social studies teacher at Sharda Mandir school who has proofread the entire book.
IT IS ANYBODY’S GUESS
Information becomes ‘infromation’, gallery becomes ‘gallary’ and metals are ‘mettels’. Or go through this sentence, ‘How our life is developed by mutual dependent, that we can come dearned by family’, on page 13. Even the word ‘suvar’ (the translator probably forgot the word ‘pig’) finds mention on page 47 of the book. Kapoor is right. It doesn’t need any teacher to point out the mistakes, even a perneed any teacher to point out the mistakes, even a person with basic knowledge of English will be shocked by the atrocious content.
How did Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training (GCERT) allow such a book to be printed calls for a serious introspection on part of the authorities at the plight of education in the state and where it is headed. “On one hand we are spending crores to improve the learning of English in the state, while on the other there are mistakes galore in imparting the basic knowledge of English to impressionable minds who grow up learning the language incorrectly,” Kapoor said.
Nine chapters by 14 Gujarati writers have been translated by Manubhai B Shah, a retired lecturer of history at B D Arts College. The poor translation shows that the history teacher has not done a thorough job, neither has the GCERT bothered to get the translation proofread. It seems the book was directly sent to print after the translation. Even in the title page of the book, Social Studies has been printed twice.
The English text has replaced the word ‘pigs’ with ‘suvar’
Shah confirmed that he had translated the book in a month and half at the rate of Rs 200 per page. “The translation was very difficult and where needed I have referred the dictionary. There might have been mistakes as I was required to do a quick job. I am sorry for that,” he said. Imagine the plight of three lakh students studying in class 6 English medium in the state. The retired teacher also admitted that he has started proofreading the book again after someone pointed out the mistakes to him.
Shah was mum when asked what about the students who have been made to study the textbook for the past two months. St Xavier’s High School, Mirzapur, Principal Fr Titus DeCosta said, “English textbooks of state board are full of mistakes, but our well-qualified teachers are doing a commendable job. While teaching every chapter, our teachers point out the errors in the book and ask the students to correct them. If we don’t do it, we would be doing injustice to the students.” Another school principal who did not wished to be named said, “We would rather teach the students NCERT textbooks and books by private publishers which are far better and provide correct knowledge.”
GCERT Director M T Shah admitted that there were mistakes in the English textbook. “The mistakes have come to our notice. This will be rectified in the revised edition. We are also taking steps that this does not happen again.” The director also said that those responsible for the goofup will be held accountable. “It is also the responsibility of language experts at Gujarat State Board of School Textbook (GSBST) to check the content before printing it,” he said while passing the buck.
However, the textbook board denied responsibility in the matter. GSBST Director H K Patel said, “The entire responsibility of making the English textbook is GCERT’s, while the translation and other work of regional languages such as Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, etc is our responsibility.”
On one hand we spend crores to improve the learning of English in the state, on the other there are mistakes in imparting basic knowledge of English to impressionable minds
In the early morning, you are receiving newspaper in your hand everyday; by its you became aware of daily events and incidents. After sometime these events became past. We remember that time and date, when the same type of incident happened. The photographs and detail information are given in the newspapers what was happened in the past. We come to know the history by there photographs and information.”
Forgive us if reading the above passage has stumped you, shocked you or made you very angry. To put it straight, this is not our own creation, but the first paragraph of the first chapter, ‘Sources of Knowing History’, from the Social Science book of class 6 (first semester) of the state board. Almost every second line in every page has grammatical mistakes, spelling errors and even Gujarati words in the 52-page textbook for English medium students, according to Rakesh Kapoor, Mirror reader and a social studies teacher at Sharda Mandir school who has proofread the entire book.
IT IS ANYBODY’S GUESS
Information becomes ‘infromation’, gallery becomes ‘gallary’ and metals are ‘mettels’. Or go through this sentence, ‘How our life is developed by mutual dependent, that we can come dearned by family’, on page 13. Even the word ‘suvar’ (the translator probably forgot the word ‘pig’) finds mention on page 47 of the book. Kapoor is right. It doesn’t need any teacher to point out the mistakes, even a perneed any teacher to point out the mistakes, even a person with basic knowledge of English will be shocked by the atrocious content.
How did Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training (GCERT) allow such a book to be printed calls for a serious introspection on part of the authorities at the plight of education in the state and where it is headed. “On one hand we are spending crores to improve the learning of English in the state, while on the other there are mistakes galore in imparting the basic knowledge of English to impressionable minds who grow up learning the language incorrectly,” Kapoor said.
Nine chapters by 14 Gujarati writers have been translated by Manubhai B Shah, a retired lecturer of history at B D Arts College. The poor translation shows that the history teacher has not done a thorough job, neither has the GCERT bothered to get the translation proofread. It seems the book was directly sent to print after the translation. Even in the title page of the book, Social Studies has been printed twice.
The English text has replaced the word ‘pigs’ with ‘suvar’
Shah confirmed that he had translated the book in a month and half at the rate of Rs 200 per page. “The translation was very difficult and where needed I have referred the dictionary. There might have been mistakes as I was required to do a quick job. I am sorry for that,” he said. Imagine the plight of three lakh students studying in class 6 English medium in the state. The retired teacher also admitted that he has started proofreading the book again after someone pointed out the mistakes to him.
Shah was mum when asked what about the students who have been made to study the textbook for the past two months. St Xavier’s High School, Mirzapur, Principal Fr Titus DeCosta said, “English textbooks of state board are full of mistakes, but our well-qualified teachers are doing a commendable job. While teaching every chapter, our teachers point out the errors in the book and ask the students to correct them. If we don’t do it, we would be doing injustice to the students.” Another school principal who did not wished to be named said, “We would rather teach the students NCERT textbooks and books by private publishers which are far better and provide correct knowledge.”
GCERT Director M T Shah admitted that there were mistakes in the English textbook. “The mistakes have come to our notice. This will be rectified in the revised edition. We are also taking steps that this does not happen again.” The director also said that those responsible for the goofup will be held accountable. “It is also the responsibility of language experts at Gujarat State Board of School Textbook (GSBST) to check the content before printing it,” he said while passing the buck.
However, the textbook board denied responsibility in the matter. GSBST Director H K Patel said, “The entire responsibility of making the English textbook is GCERT’s, while the translation and other work of regional languages such as Gujarati, Hindi, Marathi, etc is our responsibility.”
