Sun Aug 17 16:29:20 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
Environmental Science textbooks for Class IV in Kerala, India are facing scrutiny due to factual inaccuracies in their English and Malayalam versions. These errors include misrepresenting historical facts about the first woman president of the Indian National Congress and the founder of the Indian National Army. A map of India in the Malayalam textbook incorrectly omits Assam. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) claims to be correcting these errors online and informing teachers. However, discrepancies remain between the English and Malayalam versions online, and concerns are raised about the printed textbooks still containing the errors. A teacher’s association alleges the controversy is deliberate, while the SCERT insists corrections are being made.
**News Article:**
**Kerala Textbooks Riddled with Historical Errors, Sparking Controversy**
*Thiruvananthapuram, August 17, 2025* – A series of factual errors in Class IV Environmental Science textbooks in Kerala has ignited controversy and drawn criticism from educators and parents. The errors, found in both English and Malayalam versions, pertain to key figures and events in Indian history.
Specifically, the Malayalam medium textbook incorrectly identifies Sarojini Naidu as the first woman president of the Indian National Congress (INC), when Annie Besant was actually the first. The textbooks also misattribute the founding of the Indian National Army (INA) solely to Subhas Chandra Bose, neglecting the contributions of Mohan Singh, who initially founded it. Additionally, a map of India within the Malayalam textbook inaccurately omits the state of Assam.
The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), the body responsible for curriculum and textbook development, has acknowledged the errors. SCERT Director Jayaprakash R.K. stated that efforts are underway to rectify the mistakes on the SCERT website and inform teachers through training sessions.
However, discrepancies persist. While corrections have been made to the Malayalam version online, the English version continues to contain some of the original errors. This includes still asking for the name of the first “woman” instead of “Indian woman” president of the INC, and not including mention that the Indian National Army was ‘reorganized’, not formed, by Netaji.
The Kerala School Teachers’ Association has dismissed the concerns as a deliberate attempt to create controversy. General Secretary T.K.A. Shafi indicated that online corrections had been made. He also suggested that an option to provide students with corrected pages could be considered for printed textbooks, but no decision has been made so far.
This controversy follows a recent uproar over a teacher’s handbook that inaccurately described Subhas Chandra Bose fleeing to Germany out of “fear” of the British. The SCERT has since corrected that statement. The series of errors has raised questions about the quality control and accuracy of educational materials within the state.
First Piper 