The Federal Government has introduced a sweeping set of reforms aimed at easing the financial pressure on parents while improving the quality of learning materials used in schools across the country.
Central to the new measures is a policy mandating the use of standardised, high-quality textbooks designed to remain in use for four to six years, a move intended to end the long-standing practice of frequent textbook changes that force parents to buy new materials every academic session.
The policy was unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suiwaba Sa’idu, as part of broader efforts to reposition Nigeria’s education sector.
Details of the reform were made public in a statement issued on Friday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Mrs Boriowo Folasade.
According to the statement, the new framework strengthens quality assurance processes and places strict limits on textbook revisions, ensuring that changes are based on meaningful improvements in content rather than minor cosmetic alterations. The policy also expressly prohibits the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks, a practice that has contributed significantly to rising education costs.
The Ministry noted that the initiative would allow siblings to share textbooks, reduce recurring expenses for families, and cut down on waste within the school system, aligning with broader environmental sustainability goals.
In addition to the textbook reforms, the Federal Government has introduced a uniform academic calendar to promote consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning nationwide. Measures have also been taken to curb excessive spending on school ceremonies, with graduation events now restricted to pupils and students completing Primary 6, JSS3, and SSS3.
The Ministers stressed that the reforms enhance the assessment, selection, and use of textbooks and other instructional materials, addressing long-standing concerns over weak standards and practices that compelled parents to purchase new textbooks annually without noticeable improvements in learning outcomes.
A key feature of the policy is the introduction of structured and meaningful revision cycles, requiring that any textbook updates reflect substantive content enhancements rather than changes in layout or pagination. This, the Ministry said, would extend the lifespan of approved textbooks and ensure better value for money.
Under the new arrangement, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to play a central role in evaluating and approving instructional materials, working closely with relevant education agencies to ensure that all textbooks used in schools are high quality and aligned with the national curriculum.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to comprehensive education reform and commended the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), NERDC, and other technical partners for their contributions to the development and implementation of the new policy framework.
