Srinagar: In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, the Board of School Education has faced criticism for a significant error in a Class 10 textbook.

According to a statement by Kashmir Media Service, the textbook titled ‘Disaster Management and Road Safety Education’ has come under scrutiny after a video revealed that the textbook division replaced the word ‘State’ with ‘UT’ following the region’s reclassification as a Union Territory in 2019. This substitution, however, was incorrectly applied to contexts unrelated to administrative status, such as ‘state of affairs.’

The textbook, which is accessible on the education department’s official website for the current academic session, has highlighted the board’s oversight. The error appears three times across two pages, specifically on Pages 29 and 30.

The issue arises amid a textbook shortage crisis as schools in Kashmir prepare to reopen after winter vacations. Observers have criticized the Board of School Education and the textbook’s editorial board for negligence.

In one instance on Page 29 under a section about fainting, the text mistakenly refers to unconsciousness as a ‘UT of Human Body’ instead of the ‘state of human body.’ The error is repeated on Page 30, implying that this ‘UT’ could lead to fatal consequences without prompt first aid.

Observers have reacted sharply, demanding immediate corrective measures from the Board of School Education. Senior PDP leader Naeem Akhtar expressed his concern on social media, describing the blunder as a “tragicomedy.”

The Board of School Education has mandated that all private schools adhere to prescribed textbooks, threatening de-recognition for non-compliance. However, the current blunder has raised questions about the board’s editorial standards.