…The Federal government has also streamlined graduation ceremonies,
ABUJA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | The Federal Government, in a major policy shift aimed at reducing the cost of education for families and improving learning outcomes, has introduced a nationwide framework for the use of reusable, high-quality textbooks in schools.
The policy, jointly announced by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suiwaba Sai’d, seeks to curb escalating education expenses, promote sustainability, and enhance the overall quality of teaching materials used in classrooms.
Speaking in Abuja, the ministers said the new guidelines require schools to adopt standardised, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years. They added that the long-standing practice of attaching disposable workbooks to textbooks has been banned.
According to them, the reform will allow textbooks to be reused across multiple academic sessions, enabling siblings to share books and significantly reducing recurring expenses for parents, while also minimising waste within the education system.
Beyond textbooks, the policy introduces additional measures aimed at cost control and quality improvement. A uniform academic calendar has been adopted to ensure consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning across the country.
The Federal government has also streamlined graduation ceremonies, limiting them to pupils and students completing Primary 6, JSS3, and SSS3, in a bid to eliminate excessive spending associated with multiple and unnecessary ceremonies.
The ministers said the reforms address persistent concerns over frequent but superficial textbook revisions, weak quality controls, and practices that forced parents to purchase new books annually without meaningful improvements in content.
Federal Government explained that textbook reviews will now follow structured and substantive revision cycles, ensuring changes reflect genuine content enhancements rather than minor design alterations.
To further raise standards, the policy limits the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade, aligning Nigeria with global best practices adopted in countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania. This approach 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 play a central role in evaluating and approving instructional materials, working with relevant agencies to ensure all textbooks meet curriculum requirements and quality benchmarks.
Reaffirming its commitment to education reform, the ministry commended the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), NERDC, and other technical partners for their contributions to the development of the policy.
The ministers stressed that the Federal Government remains committed to protecting educational standards, promoting equity, reducing costs for parents, and ensuring that learners across Nigeria have access to durable, high-quality instructional materials that support effective teaching and learning.
