The recent fiasco involving gross errors published in national textbooks asks the question: How could this have happened, and how can we stop it from happening again?
This is not the first time we have seen such gross incompetence. In 2013, several textbooks were found to contain errors because they had been “printed in a hurry.”
It is inexcusable that something similar has been allowed to happen again.
This year’s textbooks were found to contain simple grammatical and spelling errors which are, frankly, unacceptable from the national textbook board.
Though the Education Ministry has recognised the problem and asked for the reasons behind the mistake, this is not enough.
Quite simply, those responsible for these mistakes must be held accountable, and punished accordingly.
This means, firing incompetent and unqualified staff, and making sure these errors are not repeated.
It must be shown to both the NCTB and the public that the government takes the education of our youth seriously. The education of our future generation is no laughing matter.
Parents and children expect and deserve board-approved textbooks to be a certain standard.
The government’s failure to ensure that standard erodes people’s confidence in the education system, which is already on shaky ground.
We must, for the sake of our children, and for the future of this nation, be uncompromising in the standards we demand from our textbooks -- they should at least be error-free, and free of any kind of sexism or bigotry.
This process begins with a rigorous investigation into the textbook board, and taking proper action. Our children deserve nothing less.
