The Federal Government has introduced a National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior, and senior secondary schools as part of efforts to improve quality assurance and standardisation in Nigeria’s education sector.
In a press release issued on April 26, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Education said the policy aims to address the proliferation of textbooks by ensuring that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials are approved for classroom use, with implementation set to begin in September 2026 after stakeholder engagement and framework development.
According to the statement, the Honourable Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, said the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council will retain its statutory role of approving textbooks. However, approved materials will now be subjected to a structured national ranking process to determine the most suitable options for each subject and level.
The statement noted that the NERDC will establish Standing Subject Committees made up of experts to carry out “rigorous evaluations based on defined academic and pedagogical standards,” with only a limited number of top-ranked textbooks approved for use nationwide.
It further stated that “any textbook not ranked will not be permitted for use, regardless of prior licensing status,” underscoring the government’s push for stricter quality control and consistency across schools.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to improving learning outcomes and ensuring that students have access to high-quality educational resources.
Ademide Adebayo
