Edo begins review of textbooks for all school grade levels

THE Edo Ministry of Education has commenced a review of textbooks for all subjects across grade levels in basic, secondary and technical education in the state

Mrs Ero Ugiagbe, Acting Director, Department of Education Resources in the ministry told news men on Wednesday in Benin that the exercise was being carried out ahead of the 2023/2024 Academic Session.

According to the director, 119 publishers have submitted over 1,300 books for review across all subject areas and all levels of education from basic education to secondary and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).

“A total of 166 teachers from public and private schools in the state have been commissioned by the ministry to conduct the book review.

“This is the first time the book review process will include private and TVET schools.

“The goal of the ministry is to build a strong stakeholder base and standardise instruction across private and public schools,” Ugiagbe said.

Speaking, the State Commissioner for Education, Dr Joan Osa-Oviawe, said that reviewers had been admonished to focus on quality and relevance.

“Book review is not a rubber stamp endeavour, the process must be rigorous.

“With the EdoBEST 2.0 and the launch of our Learning Agenda, textbooks must now meet minimum benchmarks in quality production and the content must be relevant to the dictates of the Nigerian national curriculum.

“Gone are the days when books that are shabbily produced will be selected: paper and picture quality, editing, minimal errors are all factors to be considered in the selection,” Osa-Oviawe said.

The commissioner said the ministry was developing standards and setting targets to enhance teaching and learning in the state.

The book review orientation sessions, she said, highlighted the transparent and inclusive process the ministry put in place to ensure that only books that meet specifications would be selected.

Osa-Oviawe said that the emphasis was on learner and child-centred instruction, project-based instruction, pedagogy, curriculum framework practice sessions, consistency with socio-cultural values, and attractive user experience aside others.

“The book review process is a well-thought out process that started few months ago with a meeting of book publishers.

“The meeting was aimed at levelling expectations and defining the book review process.

“Publishers have also been put on notice that books selected will include access to electronic copies in line with the roll-out of EdoBEST Digital in September.

“In addition to the teachers commissioned to be reviewers, a panel of experts drawn from the schools, retired eminent educators from colleges of education and universities have been assembled to conduct second level vetting of the books shortlisted by reviewers.

“All these, before a final decision is reached by a committee that will do the final selection,” she said.

Osa-Oviawe assured all the publishers that the process would be fair and transparent.