NEW DELHI: Three new textbooks have been launched by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) for Class 8 with a book on vocational education being launched for this grade for the first time. However, the books were not available on e-commerce portals as announced. They were available for sale at the NCERT publication centre in its campus.
The textbooks have been given new names too bearing the subject in mind - Curiosity (Science), Kaushal Bodh (vocational education) and Malhaar (Hindi language textbook). The Maths and Social Science books are yet to be released.
“They are crafted to spark imagination, creativity and conceptual clarity in young minds,” said an official statement released by NCERT announcing their launch on Wednesday. They are based on National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF – SE 2023).
Curiosity, running to 228 pages, is an extremely interactive book which goads students to carry out multiple experiments on their own by guiding them step by step.
`Probe and Ponder’, `Think Like a Scientist’ `Safety First’ `Be a Scientist’ `Discover, design and Debate’ are interesting sections found throughout this colourful book.
An official told TNIE, “Vocational education had so far been introduced only from classes 9th to 12th. It was decided to introduce it for junior classes too and it was launched for Grade 6 last year. For the first time, Class 8 students will have such a book.”
The 202-paged book is highly informative and teaches students the art of growing healthy food in an environmentally friendly manner, the correct method to raise livestock in a farm, building structures with wood and bamboo, carrying out water audits, and interestingly, a chapter on creating advertisements.
The Hindi language book (161 pages) has interesting stories, conversations, poems and exercises to help students to learn the language.
Not available, say parents
Rajesh Kumar, a Badlapur resident, said, “The first quarter of 2025-2026 is already over, yet no complete set of books published. Anyhow published books are not available on Amazon or in local shops. NCERT should release the PDF on its portal. Surjeet Kumawat goaded the NCERT to upload the pdf on the books while another respondent Ram Niwas urged them to upload it on the website.
The NCERT Director Dinesh Prasad Saklani did not respond to multiple calls by this reporter while other officials sought extra time to respond to the queries posed.