The Federal Government has rolled out a new National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior and senior secondary schools, in a major step aimed at improving quality control and standardisation across Nigeria’s education sector.
The initiative is designed to streamline the wide array of textbooks currently in circulation and ensure that only high-quality, curriculum-aligned materials are used in classrooms nationwide.
Announcing the policy, the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, said the reform would strengthen oversight and bring greater coherence to instructional materials.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s Director of Press, Boriowo Folashade, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, will retain its statutory responsibility for approving textbooks, but with an added layer of evaluation.
Under the new framework, textbooks will not only be approved but also ranked through a rigorous national assessment process to determine the most suitable options for each subject and level of education.
Alausa explained that the ranking process would be driven by newly constituted Standing Subject Committees made up of specialists across various disciplines.
“These committees will undertake detailed reviews of submitted textbooks, assessing them against clearly defined academic and pedagogical benchmarks,” he said.
He added that, following the evaluation, only a select number of top-performing textbooks would be endorsed for use in schools for each subject area.
“This approach will ensure stronger quality control and greater uniformity in teaching and learning materials across the country,” the minister noted.
The government believes the reform will address longstanding concerns over the proliferation of textbooks, which has often left teachers, students and parents uncertain about the most appropriate materials to use.
By limiting the number of approved titles, the policy is expected to eliminate confusion while improving overall learning outcomes.
Officials also said the system would enhance transparency and order in the textbook approval process, bringing Nigeria in line with global best practices in the standardisation of instructional resources.
As part of the new policy, any textbook that does not secure a ranking under the system will no longer be permitted in schools, even if it had previously received approval.
The ministry said it would embark on a nationwide awareness campaign to sensitise educators, publishers and other stakeholders to ensure smooth adoption and compliance.
Implementation of the National Textbook Ranking System is scheduled to begin with the September 2026 academic session, following the establishment of subject committees and the completion of the evaluation framework.
Alausa emphasised that the reform is part of a broader agenda to raise standards in education delivery, strengthen quality assurance mechanisms and equip Nigerian students with reliable, high-quality learning resources.
