The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has decided to introduce new textbooks for Classes IV, V, VII and IX in the 2025-26 academic session, even as parents and academics expressed concern over possible delay in getting the material on time.

Two NCERT officials said the council had already introduced new textbooks for Classes I and II in 2023-24 and for Classes III and VI in 2024-25. The National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee (NSTC) and the Textbook Development Team have started preparing new textbooks for Classes IV and VII. Once those books are done, they will start working on textbooks for Classes V and IX, which will be introduced in the 2025-26 session.

A parent of a Class VI student of a school affiliated to the CBSE on Tuesday said his daughter’s studies had been affected as the NCERT had delayed the release of new books this year. The NCERT has introduced new books for Classes III and VI in the current academic session.

The parent said his daughter received the new mathematics textbooks from the school in Dwarka, Southwest Delhi, last week, coinciding with the completion of the mid-term examination.

“We had paid money to the school, which got the books from the NCERT. The NCERT released the new books at the end of August. They delayed the release of the books and the school got them late too. I am not sure if the NCERT can make new textbooks available for four classes before the beginning of the new session in April 2025. The students may have to suffer again,” said the parent.

Aman Kumar, a member of the Delhi University Court and Executive Council, said the delay in the release of books by the NCERT showed there were lapses in preparations.

“The NCERT should have made thorough preparations before deciding to introduce any textbooks. This year, the teachers did not get adequate time to prepare and the children got little time to study properly,” Kumar said.

He said the NCERT should revisit its decision to introduce new books for four classes.

Michel Danino, a visiting professor at IIT Gandhinagar and a key member of the NSTC, has told The Indian Express that four to six chapters would be added to the new social sciences textbook for Class VI in the next academic session.

“The books that have been introduced have not been done well. One of the members has said they could not prepare the books well and more chapters will be added next year. Let the NCERT carry out corrections to the books. Let there be a thorough probe into the delay,” Kumar said.

Separate emails have been sent to NCERT director Dinesh Prasad Saklani and Danino to understand their perspectives on the concerns of parents and experts about the possible delay in the release of new textbooks. Danino was also asked if the new chapters for the social science book of Class VI have been prepared.

Danino replied: “I am not in a position to answer your first question.... Nor is there any need for all grades to be covered at once, as long as the yearly progression on the basis of the new textbooks is taken care of. Plans to add some content to the Grade 6 social science textbook are taking shape.”