CHITRAL, June 3: The primer of Khowar language published by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Textbook Board is infested with mistakes of serious nature. The book will be taught in elementary classes of public schools Talking to Dawn here on Monday, the president of Drosh chapter of Anjuman-i-Taraqi Khowar Anisur Rahman Chughtai alleged that millions of rupees were squandered by the officials of curriculum wing of the education department and textbook board in the preparation of the primer.

He said though a series of consultative workshops for the writers of Khowar were held such an exercise could not produce desired results.

Mr Chughtai said that the reason behind mistakes in the book was that people with political affiliations having no knowledge of the language were hired for the purpose who were paid hefty amounts. He said that the children must be taught by explaining objects in the local environment but the primer was full of abstract articles which cannot be illustrated by pictures.

“A school going Kalash girl has been termed as woman while an ‘arbiter’ is shown as an aged person addressing a large crowd of people in the primer,” said Mr Chughtai adding, “While a haji (pilgrim) has been shown as the person who passes by Khana-i-Kaba”.

Similarly, Mr Chughtai said a large number of words in the primer had been spelled wrongly.

He said the Anjuma-i-Taraqqi Khowar had served a legal notice on the relevant authorities for committing mistakes in the book. He added that a legal suit would also be initiated in the court of law if such wrongs were not rectified.