Bhubaneswar: Fresh errors have surfaced in a Class I textbook in Odisha, adding to the controversy over mistakes in newly introduced school books. The latest issue has been found in 'Jhulana-1', a textbook prescribed for Class I students in English medium private schools.

The book reportedly introduces the Odia alphabet in an unusual sequence, beginning with the consonant 'ଚ' instead of 'ଅ'. The subsequent order includes 'ଟ', 'ମ', 'ଗ', and 'ର' while 'ଅ' and 'ଆ' appear later.

The mistake in the new textbook has drawn criticism from teachers and parents, who fear it could confuse children during their foundational stage of language learning.

Apart from the altered sequence of letters, the textbook has also been found to contain other major mistakes. In the state anthem 'Bande Utkala Janani', the phrase "Ghana Ghana Banabhumi" has been printed as "Ghana Banabhumi".

Apart from this, a spelling error has been reported in the word "Utkala" in the national anthem.

The controversy comes at a time when many schools are yet to receive printed copies of the textbook. Instead, parents have been provided with a 168-page PDF version, which schools have shared digitally.

Teachers and parents have expressed concern over the quality of the content and the presence of errors in the digital version. The issue has triggered strong reactions, particularly as the textbook has been introduced under government directions for use in English medium private schools.

Parents have urged the government to immediately review the textbook, correct the errors and ensure that error-free printed copies are supplied to schools at the earliest.

However, the School and Mass Education Department in a statement said that media reports of such errors in the textbook are unjustified. Correction of mistakes in textbooks is underway on the basis of inputs provided by educationalists and experts. The rectified version of the textbooks will be provided to the students soon, the department said.

The latest controversy follows the Odisha government's recent embarrassment over mistakes in newly published textbooks for Classes I to VIII. More than 1,600 errors were reportedly detected across the new textbooks, inviting sharp criticism from Opposition parties, educationists and other stakeholders.