By Osordi Ayomide
The Federal Government has introduced a National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary schools as part of efforts to strengthen quality assurance and standardisation in Nigeria’s education sector.
The initiative, announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, is aimed at addressing the proliferation of textbooks and ensuring that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials are used in classrooms nationwide.
Under the new policy, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will retain its statutory responsibility for the approval of textbooks. However, all approved materials will now be subjected to a structured national ranking process to determine their suitability for teaching and learning.
To achieve this, NERDC will establish Standing Subject Committees made up of education experts to conduct detailed evaluations based on clearly defined academic and pedagogical standards.
The government said only a select number of top-ranked textbooks for each subject and level will be recommended for use in schools, a move designed to streamline available materials and enhance consistency in teaching.
It further stated that any textbook not ranked under the new system would no longer be permitted for classroom use, regardless of its previous approval status.
According to the Ministry of Education, the reform is in response to longstanding concerns over the excessive number of textbooks in circulation, many of which vary widely in quality, thereby creating confusion for teachers, students, and parents.
The implementation of the policy is scheduled to begin in September 2026, following stakeholder consultations and the completion of the evaluation framework.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to improving learning outcomes and ensuring that Nigerian students have access to high-quality and standardised educational resources.