Introduction

In education textbooks are very important because they help in attaining the school curriculum.
Textbooks are stated as the heart of educational enterprise. Generally we know that a textbook is a
prescribed book for the student of a particular age group. It covers the items as given in the syllabus.
Such a book forms the basis of teaching and learning in the class.

Textbook is frequently the most important teaching tool because it can determine not only what will
be taught but also how it will be taught. Although television, computer, internet and other new
media revel printed materials of communication, textbook remain major sources in school and
colleges. Among various instructional aids such as textbook, supplementary books is presumably the
most important because it is used in formal as well as informal situations of instruction and also in
situation of self study. This is the cheapest of all the aids enumerated above.

Need and Importance of textbook

Textbook are indispensable for the study and teaching due to various reasons:

To help the teacher: The text book provides useful guideline along which the teacher can plan his /
her day-to-day teaching; it serves as a reference book while actually teaching in the classroom;
provides suggestions for some assignment; suggests activities to be taken up in the classroom and as
homework.

To help the students: For students, textbook is the most accessible guide, a dependable reference
book and an all-time companion.

1. The student makes use of the textbook to prepare himself in advance for learning in the
classroom.
2. Refers to it during the course of learning in the classroom
3. Revises and reinforces the class room learnings
4. Does assignment at home
5. Prepares for the examination
6. Reads for pleasure
7. and seeks guidance and references for further studies.

To help in self-teaching: The tradition of imparting education through the instrument of lecturing has
high value especially when the teacher is armed with special gifts, i.e., inspiring the gifted and
encouraging the weak students, etc. But it needs to be admitted that even impact of best spoken
message is necessarily Transitory in character and even the most attentive listener loses any but the
obvious connection in the lesson. The efficacy of the textbook lies in making self teaching a possible
proposition through printed materials. Thus, a good textbook can prove an insurance against
illiteracy at home which is normal in the case of many children.

To provide logical and comprehensive material: A good textbook provides material in a systematic
and comprehensive form. That why, it sets a standard of minimum essential to be achieved by pupils
of all categories. It gives the beginner a grasp of new matter. It also gives direction for further
studies to enthusiastic students

To ensure uniformity of good standard: The text book provides a highway for carrying better practice
to all Schools. Some sort of uniformity of good standard is ensured. The Textbook furnishes a
common basis on which to master the process of reading, analyzing, outlining and summarizing. It,
thus, furnishes a common laboratory in which to develop study skills.
To provide a base from which both the teacher and the student may start and continue to work: The
textbook contain the minimum essential knowledge and can, thus, provide appoint of departure for
more comprehensive link. Further, it provides the common ground which both the student and
teachers may explore together. Also, it can focus attention on the same issues - event, sequences
and circumstances and serve well as rallying points.

To provide both confirmation and sustenance: The textbook is supposed to contain the facts which
are carefully sifted and examined. Thus it can confirm the knowledge obtained elsewhere.