The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a sweeping reform of its textbook policy, aiming to ease the financial burden on families, improve learning outcomes, and align the country’s education system with global sustainability standards.
The new policy framework, jointly issued by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suiwaba Sai’d, marks a decisive shift toward the use of durable, high-quality textbooks designed for reuse over a period of four to six years. The initiative is part of broader efforts to reposition Nigeria’s education sector and make schooling more affordable and equitable.
Under the policy, schools are expressly prohibited from bundling disposable workbooks with core textbooks—a practice long criticised for forcing parents to purchase new materials every academic year. Instead, standardised textbooks will be reused across multiple cohorts, allowing siblings to share learning materials and significantly reducing recurring education expenses.
Beyond cost savings, the ministers noted that the reform addresses environmental concerns by cutting down on paper waste generated by frequently replaced textbooks. “This policy supports both household finances and environmental sustainability,” they said, describing it as a dual-response to economic pressure and climate responsibility.
The textbook reform is part of a wider package of education sector changes. The Federal Government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar to improve consistency in teaching and school planning nationwide, as well as new rules to curb the rising cost of school ceremonies. Under the revised guidelines, graduation ceremonies will now be limited to pupils and students completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3).
At the heart of the new framework is a strengthened system for textbook assessment and quality assurance. The ministers said the reforms directly respond to longstanding concerns about frequent but superficial textbook revisions, weak ranking standards, and market practices that compel parents to buy new books without meaningful improvements in content.
To address this, the policy introduces structured and meaningful revision cycles, ensuring that approved textbooks are updated only when there are substantive enhancements in content, pedagogy, or curriculum alignment—not merely cosmetic changes in layout or pagination. This is expected to extend the lifespan of textbooks and deliver better value for money.
In line with international best practices observed in countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania, the policy also places limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level. Officials say this will improve quality control, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection for schools and education authorities.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to play a central role in evaluating and approving instructional materials, working closely with the Universal Basic Education Commission and other relevant agencies to ensure that only high-quality, curriculum-aligned textbooks are used in classrooms nationwide.
Reaffirming its commitment to education renewal, the Federal Ministry of Education praised its technical partners for their contributions to the policy’s development and stressed that the reforms are designed to safeguard academic standards while promoting fairness and access.
“The goal is clear,” the ministers said. “To reduce costs for parents, strengthen quality, and ensure that every learner in Nigeria has access to instructional materials that genuinely support effective teaching and meaningful learning.”
With the new policy, Nigeria joins a growing number of countries seeking to balance educational quality, affordability, and sustainability—signaling a significant shift in how learning materials are produced, approved, and used across its schools.
Elijah Adeyemi
