IMPHAL, July 2: Observing that if students are prescribed with textbooks in which conflicting information and wrong diagram are included then it will be a serious issue more dangerous than murder case, opposition MLA Th Shyamkumar urged the government to initiate befitting action against those involved in providing such books.
He was speaking while putting up a motion on “™need to review and improve the textbooks prescribed by Council of Higher Secondary Education, Manipur (COHSEM)`™`™ raised during the last business of the ongoing Assembly session today.
The MLA claimed that there are many mistakes in Class XI and XII textbooks guiding students in the wrong direction.
Physics textbook written by three teachers of Class XI and XII and subsequently prescribed by COHSEM is filled with mistakes. There are many mistakes including wrong diagram on page no 5, 41, 73 and 148 in the physics textbook for Class XII. Apart from the subject, there are also apparent mistakes in chemistry and biology textbooks, he pointed out, adding that that such errors are not found in textbooks prescribed by NCERT.
Taking serious note of the mistakes in the textbooks, he drew attention of the House to form a House Committee to look into the matter in the larger interest of students.
Clarifying the issue raised by the MLA, Education Minister M Okendro said that forming a small Committee will be a better option instead of a House Committee to look into the matter.
However, he called for establishment of truth behind the mistakes in the textbooks before the end of the Assembly session, July 10.
When uproar in the House erupted amongst the movers of the motion over the issue, PHED Minister I Hemochandra and opposition MLA Dr I Ibohalbi intervened.
Later, the House unanimously resolved to rectify mistakes in the textbooks but not by forming a House Committee.