New Balbharati textbooks arrive sans QR codes linked to digital content

According to teachers, even though it was just supplementary material, it was an effective learning tool for children. “If a child has not understood a concept, he/she could access the QR code at home at a convenient time and could re-learn at his/her own pace. It would also help them revise at home,” said a teacher. Despite several options in digital content, many relied on these QR codes as they were linked to Balbharati textbooks. “For students, if learning material is given with textbooks, it is deemed an authentic source,” added another teacher.

This novel system of QR code was developed and first used by global-award winning teacher Ranjintsinh Disale for his students in a Zilla Parishad school in Solapur. In 2016, the state government decided to implement it as a pilot project in a class, and then based on its success it was extended to all classes in the academic year 2017-18 ,with an announcement by the state’s education department. But now that QR codes are omitted from the textbooks, there was no notification regarding this.

Explaining why QR codes have not been printed in the new textbooks, Director of the Balbharati, Krishnakumar Patil, said, “The new integrated textbooks have a different format than that of old textbooks. In some lessons, the content has changed so the digital content on QR code wouldn’t have matched. Additionally, many QR codes led to dead links as digital content was not available for all lessons. Balbharati is now working on creating revised digital content separately.”

Expressing disappointment, Disale said, “The QR codes really helped children. During the pandemic it was a working alternative for children to learn at their convenience.” Disagreeing that there is no content on QR codes, Disale said, “Many codes were linked to DIKSHA – educational e-content platform where Maharashtra is among the top few states in generating e-content. The state has also started e-Balbharati to create digital content for learning.”