The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a new policy framework aimed at reducing the financial burden on parents, improving learning outcomes, and promoting sustainability in schools through the adoption of reusable, high-quality textbooks.
This policy was jointly unveiled by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Said, as part of ongoing reforms to reposition the education sector.
The initiative prioritizes standardized, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years, while expressly prohibiting the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks.
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Regarding the benefits of this new approach, the ministers stated, “This approach is intended to ensure that learning materials can be reused across multiple academic sessions,” adding that the measure would allow siblings to share textbooks, “significantly lower recurring education costs for parents, and reduce waste within the school system.”
As part of broader reforms, the government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar and streamlined graduation ceremonies to ease financial pressure on families.
Under the new guidelines, only students completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) will be permitted to hold graduation ceremonies.
The ministers emphasized that the reforms respond to concerns over frequent but cosmetic textbook revisions that compel parents to purchase new books annually without content improvements.
Addressing the new standards for updates, the ministers explained, “Under the new framework, textbook revisions must reflect substantive improvements in content rather than minor changes in layout or pagination, thereby extending the lifespan of approved textbooks and ensuring better value for money.”
The policy also introduces limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject, a measure they expect “to improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection processes for schools and education authorities.”
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to play a central role in quality assurance.
The ministers noted, “The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to play a central role in assessing and assuring the quality of instructional materials, working with relevant agencies to ensure that only curriculum-aligned textbooks are approved for use in schools.”
Concluding their announcement, they reaffirmed the government’s commitment to educational renewal, stating, “The Federal Government remains resolved to safeguard educational standards, promote equity, reduce costs for parents, and ensure that learners across Nigeria have access to high-quality instructional materials that support effective teaching and learning outcomes.”
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