The Federal Government has introduced a national textbook ranking system for primary, junior, and senior secondary schools as part of efforts to improve quality and standardisation in Nigeria’s education sector.
This was disclosed in a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, on April 26, 2026.
The initiative is designed to address the proliferation of textbooks and ensure that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials are used in classrooms.
What the government is saying
The government said the new system will complement the existing approval process handled by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council.
According to the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, approved textbooks will now undergo a structured national ranking process.
- “The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will retain its statutory role of approving textbooks. However, approved textbooks will now undergo a structured national ranking process to identify the most suitable options for each subject and level.
- “NERDC will establish Standing Subject Committees comprising experts to conduct rigorous evaluations based on defined academic and pedagogical standards. Only a limited number of top-ranked textbooks will be approved, ensuring improved quality control and consistency nationwide,” they stated.
Under the new policy, any textbook that is not ranked will not be permitted for use in schools, regardless of prior approval or licensing.
The government said the policy will be implemented from September 2026, following consultations with stakeholders and the completion of the evaluation framework.
Backstory
The introduction of the national textbook ranking system builds on earlier reforms by the Federal Government to improve quality and reduce the cost of education for Nigerian families.
- In January 2026, the Ministry of Education unveiled a policy framework designed to standardise learning materials, address frequent textbook changes, and improve learning outcomes across primary and secondary schools.
- As part of the reforms, the government introduced durable, reusable textbooks expected to last between four and six years, allowing materials to be shared across students and academic sessions.
- The policy also banned the practice of bundling disposable workbooks with textbooks and placed restrictions on frequent revisions, noting that many changes were cosmetic and forced parents to purchase new books annually.
To strengthen quality control, the government moved to limit the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, aligning Nigeria with international best practices and reducing confusion in schools.
What you should know
Academic studies and sector reviews over the years have pointed to uneven textbook quality, with some materials failing to meet expected learning standards or readability levels for students.
As part of several steps to reform Nigeria’s education sector, the government completed a comprehensive review of the national curriculum for primary, secondary, and technical schools to reduce content overload, improve learning outcomes, and align education with modern skills demands
They approved new admission guidelines that adjust entry requirements for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to expand access and create space for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students yearly, while maintaining educational standards.
- They also prohibited the admission and transfer of students into Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) in all public and private secondary schools nationwide,
- Very recently, the government announced a nationwide set of reforms to tackle examination malpractice in WAEC and NECO exams, including enhanced question randomisation, unique learner identifiers, and strengthened supervision, reflecting efforts to restore credibility to national assessments.
