SHILLONG: The ongoing row over the selection of textbooks will be taken up with the Chief Minister, Mukul Sangma for his intervention into the matter.
Sources from the Education Department on Wednesday said that it would keep a watch over the situation and, it may even ask the Board to keep the work order for publication of books on abeyance.
The Education Department relatively seems to be unhappy for the fact that first preference for books by the MBoSE were given to small time and unknown publishers whereas major publishers were not taken in the loop.
When contacted, MBoSE executive chairman, Pravin Bakshi said that the Board is open to the review of the books which have been given first preference even as he added that the Board would like to be guided by the Education Department.
Maintaining that the Board has followed all the procedures strictly in a transparent matter, Bakshi further said that schools were not bound to follow the recommended books from Class I to VIII
He also added that books were reviewed by more than 350 teachers and Board does not have any obligation towards the publishers and the Board is open for changes.
Meanwhile, the list of text books for Class I which have been approved by the Board are in English medium includes The Rainbow Reader Series (Course Book-1), The Rainbow Reader Series (Work Book-1), M/S Students’ Publication for English subject
In Arithmetic, the list of text books is Easy Steps to Mathematics (Course Book – 1), Easy Steps to Mathematics (Work Book – 1) M/S Meghalaya Book Stall, Markham Point, Iewduh, Shillong, Table Book (English +Hindi +Garo + Khasi) M/S Children Publication, Bara Bazar, Shillong
In Art of Healthy & Productive subject, the name of the approved book is Living Perceptive Art of Healthy and Productive Living -1 M/S Arya Book Depot 30 Naiwala, Karol Bagh, New Delhi
In General Knowledge the approved book is Spotlight General Knowledge – 1 M/S Cordova Publications Pvt. Ltd., C-141, Sector – 63, Noida, (UP)
MBOSE approved the book “Garden of Life -1” for Value Education by M/S Macmillan Publishers India Pvt. Ltd., S.C. Goswami Road, Pan Bazar, Guwahati
In Work Education subject, the book approved is Work Education -1 M/S Students’ Publication, Bara Bazar, Shillong-793002.