Telangana education dept goofs up, hurriedly tries to amend preamble in SSC social studies text books

HYDERABAD: Telangana Education department has goofed up in printing the preamble of the Constitution of India in its redesigned latest versions of social studies books Class X.

After their attention was drawn to the bungling, the State Council for Education Research and Training (SCERT) on Friday issued a circular hurriedly asking headmasters to download the latest version of the preamble and affix it on all the preamble portions in the social studies text books and send compliance.

The circular marked “most urgent” was issued by Director of SCERT M Radha Reddy.

The circular read as follows:

“All the District Educational Officers in the State are informed that the State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) has redesigned the textbooks from class I to X for the academic year 2023-24.

Due to oversight, the image of the original Preamble was downloaded at the time of redesigning instead of the amended one on the cover page of the class X Social Studies textbook.

Hence, it is informed to download the image of the Preamble (amended) furnished by the State Council of Educational Research & Training (SCERT) and have it pasted on the cover page of the class X Social Studies textbook.

Therefore, all the District Educational Officers in the State are informed to instruct all the Headmasters/ Principals of High Schools under all managements to ensure that the image of the Preamble (amended copy) is pasted on the class X Social Studies textbook supplied to the schools immediately, duly submitting the compliance report to the SCERT, Telangana without fail.

This should be treated as the most urgent and top priority.”

The image to be downloaded was also attached to the orders.

The preamble is the most important summary of the basic tenets of the Constitution.The 42nd Amendment of the Constitution of India enacted in 1976 changed the description of India from a "sovereign democratic republic" to a "sovereign, socialist secular democratic republic", and also changed the words "unity of the nation" to "unity and integrity of the nation".

However, the amended version was not printed in the textbooks. Some teachers unions observed the goof up and drew the attention of the SCERT to the issue. Hence the hurried “amendment” to make sure the “amended” preamble was published.