NCERT's New Class 8 Textbooks Not Available Online, Parents Express Alarm

The National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has introduced three new textbooks for Class 8 students — Curiosity (Science), Kaushal Bodh (Vocational Education), and Malhaar (Hindi) — which represent an important step towards the introduction of the new curriculum as part of the National Education Policy. Interestingly, Kaushal Bodh brings vocational education at the Class 8 level into being for the very first time.

 

But what should have been a time of scholarly eagerness has instead resulted in anxiety among teachers and parents. In spite of NCERT's previous statement that the textbooks would be available online as well as on e-commerce websites, they are now being sold only at the NCERT publication counter in New Delhi. With no facility for online purchase or obtaining soft copies, parents all over India find themselves in a scramble.

 

It's already the last week of the first quarter of the academic year, and students are yet to get the books. Amazon and Flipkart have nothing. Even local stores are in the dark," complained Rajesh Kumar, a parent from Badlapur. Others such as Surjeet Kumawat and Ram Niwas corroborated his concern, asking NCERT to at least post the PDFs so that the students don't lag behind.

 

Curiosity, the new Science book, has been created to promote experimentation and critical thinking. Kaushal Bodh is meant to familiarize children with everyday applications and practical skills in sync with the NEP's emphasis on holistic education. Malhaar, the Hindi textbook, has modern literature and activities for appreciating the language.

 

But with no access to these books, the envisioned educational effect hangs in the balance. Multiple attempts to reach NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani for an explanation were unfruitful.

 

Parents for now have limited choices, as students begin the school year with missing pages — not from the syllabus, but from their very books.