Scales used as symbol of wisdom in Class Six ICT book: NCTB recalls nearly two million printed copies for correction
A controversy has erupted over the use of a pair of scales as the symbol for 'wisdom' in the Class Six information and communication technology textbook for the coming academic year (2027). After the image was published, the National Curriculum and Textbook Board (NCTB) has moved to halt printing of the book for now.
The NCTB has also moved to change all copies of the book already printed in connection with the incident. At the same time, an investigation committee has been formed. The committee has been asked to submit its report in the shortest possible time. These details are known from NCTB sources.
By now, nearly two million copies of this Class Six book had been printed and sent out to the field level. Those books are now being brought back. Retrieving the books, correcting them and reprinting them will waste a large sum of money as well as time.
Yet the government is committed to delivering all field-level books within this year. The retrieval and reprinting work has therefore raised questions about whether it will put pressure on that schedule.
Professor Abu Naser Tuku, a member of the National Curriculum and Textbook Board, said an investigation committee has already been formed on the chairman's instructions. The committee has been asked to report in the shortest possible time.
He also said it will not take very long to correct the book and send it out again. According to him, they will be able to deliver the books into students' hands on time.
However, Professor Tuku gave no answer to the question of whether the scales image is being changed because it is the symbol of a political party.
According to the information available, the 'Data and Information' lesson in the Class Six ICT book for the 2027 academic year presents the concept of a pyramid of knowledge. It has four levels. From the bottom, they are data, information, knowledge and wisdom.
A separate symbol has been used for each level. The data level has a circular symbol like a pie chart or a clock. The information level has a symbol that looks like an atom or a network. The knowledge level uses an image of the human brain. And the top level of the pyramid, wisdom, was given the image of a pair of scales.
NCTB sources say about 3.8 million copies of the Class Six ICT book are being printed for the 2027 academic year. Most of them have already been printed. In addition, a total of about 310 million books are being printed for the 2027 academic year.
Those concerned say the revised Class Six ICT book for the 2025 academic year also had the scales image at the wisdom level. But in the book in students' hands in the current academic year, an image of the human brain was used as the symbol of wisdom.
In the 2027 book, the scales image returned. After controversy over this, a move has now been taken to change the symbol. Attention will now be on the investigation committee's report and how quickly the corrected book reaches the field.
