The Federal Government has unveiled a new policy framework aimed at reducing the financial burden on parents, improving learning outcomes, and promoting sustainability in schools through the use of reusable, high-quality textbooks.
The initiative, announced on Friday by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suiwaba Sai’d, prioritises standardised, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years, while banning the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks in schools.
“This approach will allow learning materials to be reused across multiple academic sessions,” the ministers said, adding that siblings can share textbooks, education costs will drop, and waste in schools will reduce.
As part of broader reforms, the Federal Government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar to ensure consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning nationwide.
The new policy also streamlines graduation ceremonies, restricting them to pupils and students completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3), to ease financial pressure on families.
A key feature of the policy is structured and meaningful textbook revision cycles. “Textbook revisions must now reflect substantive content improvements, rather than minor layout or pagination changes, extending the lifespan of approved textbooks and ensuring better value for money,” the ministers explained.
The framework also sets limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, aligning with international best practices observed in countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania. This measure is expected to improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection for schools.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to assess and assure the quality of instructional materials, ensuring that only curriculum-aligned textbooks are approved for schools.
The ministers praised the Universal Basic Education Commission, NERDC, and other technical partners for supporting the policy, reaffirming the government’s commitment to safeguarding educational standards, promoting equity, reducing costs for parents, and providing learners with high-quality instructional materials that enhance teaching and learning outcomes.
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