In Karnataka, schools will re-open soon but textbooks may be missing

Schools affiliated to state board schools don't have the revised textbooks for the next academic year. The state education department is unclear about when the textbooks will be available.

The state government’s new plan to revise textbooks for the current academic year, 2017-2018 has left many teachers jittery. Reason? They don’t even have the textbooks to prepare for the new school term that’s going to begin in less than a month.

Schools affiliated to the state board are feeling uncertain about their classes as revised textbooks for the new academic year aren’t available in the market. Without this, they aren’t able prepare themselves much less their students.

It isn’t just the unavailability of textbooks that’s putting teachers on the edge, they are also unaware of the changes in the revised curriculum, reported Bangalore Mirror.  

However, the state’ education department is certain that the revised textbooks will be available before the term begins. Textbook review committee chairman Baragur Ramachandrappa told the publication that teachers shouldn’t panic.

He added that only five-twenty percent of the content will be revised but didn’t go into the specifics. “I have also requested the Department of State Educational Research and Training [DSERT] to conduct workshops for teachers so that they can prepare themselves,” he said.

Earlier, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that state board syllabus will be revised in an effort to make it on par with NCERT. He stated that textbooks with the revised study material should go to print in January. However, it’s not yet available to school teachers or students.

In the midst of this confusion, teachers are asking for clarity but the government isn’t able to provide any. So far, school teachers are only aware of this:    

Classes I to X	All language topics will change.
Classes I to IV	Introduction to Kannada textbook will remain the same
Classes I to VIII	Core subjects will be revised
Class V	Science and Social Science textbooks will be combined and one Environment Studies book will be issued.
Class IX	Maths, Science textbooks will be changed to NCERT textbooks.
Class IX	Social Science textbook will be revised.
Class X	Core subjects will not change. However, textbooks with more than 260 pages will be divided.