Chandigarh, May 4: Admitting to mistakes in the new text book of history for Class XII, Cabinet Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa said: “We are sorry for something that was a grave mistake. Corrections are being made.
”Randhawa accompanied by Education Minister Om Parkash Soni and Finance Minister Manpreet Badal on Thursday held at a press conference to clear the air over controversy surrounding Sikh history chapters in the books of Classes XI and XII.
Agreeing with Randhawa, Soni said: “The mistakes are accepted. Necessary corrections will be made immediately after a review.”According to official data, as many as 45,700 copies of the book have already been printed in Hindi, Punjabi and English mediums.Claiming its printing of textbooks a success, the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) has banned students and teachers from using guides for teaching history in senior secondary schools.
The board will publish and distribute its own books prepared by a panel of experts, Soni said.The decision will have a direct impact on at least five major private publishing houses selling approximately two lakh copies in schools.“The high-quality book with special activities to promote greater student interest is available for only Rs 90 against the earlier price of Rs 400-500 for guides,” he said.
Manpreet said: “While the book for Class XII is ready, the book for Class XI is in the final stage of editing. I must also point out that, the PSEB is an autonomous body. The government has nothing to do with it academic working.
”He said: “The books have been prepared by subject experts. It is really sad that people and parties who have no connection with the subject of a textbook are raising hue and cry over the issue.” He also dismissed the alleged linking of the Congress with the RSS agenda for passing the changed book.
Dr Amanpreet Gill of Delhi University said: “Keeping the original syllabus intact in the board, we in fact added new chapters of Sahibzadas, bravehearts of Punjab and Battle of Saragarhi.
”In reply to an alleged Rs 9-crore scam in the PSEB during the tenure of Sikander Singh Maluka as the Education Minister in the SAD-BJP government, Randhawa said the issue would be looked into.
Source Tribune India
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