The Federal Government of Nigeria has launched a new education policy designed to lower the cost of schooling for parents, improve learning quality, and promote environmental sustainability through the use of reusable, durable textbooks in schools nationwide.
The policy framework, jointly unveiled by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suiwaba Sai’d, is part of ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s education sector while easing the financial burden on families.
Under the new guidelines, schools are required to adopt standardized, high-quality textbooks engineered to last between four and six years. The policy expressly bans the practice of bundling disposable workbooks with textbooks, a move intended to ensure that learning materials can be reused across multiple academic sessions.
According to the Ministers, the initiative will allow siblings to share textbooks, significantly reduce recurring education expenses for parents, and cut down on waste generated within the school system. This aligns with the Federal Government’s broader commitment to sustainability and responsible resource management in education.
As part of the reforms, the Federal Government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar to promote consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning across all states of the federation.
In addition, graduation ceremonies have been streamlined to reduce unnecessary financial pressure on parents. Under the revised guidelines, only pupils and students completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) are permitted to organize graduation ceremonies.
The policy further strengthens the assessment, selection, and quality assurance processes for textbooks and instructional materials across the country. It addresses longstanding concerns about frequent but superficial textbook revisions, weak ranking standards, and practices that force parents to purchase new textbooks annually without meaningful improvements in content or learning outcomes.
A major highlight of the framework is the introduction of structured and substantive revision cycles. Textbook updates must now demonstrate clear content enhancements rather than minor design or pagination changes, ensuring longer textbook lifespan and better value for money.
The Ministers also disclosed that the policy places limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, in line with global best practices observed in countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania. This is expected to enhance quality control, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection for schools and education authorities.
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 all textbooks align with the national curriculum and meet required quality standards.
Reaffirming its commitment to education reform, the Federal Ministry of Education commended the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), NERDC, and other technical partners for their contributions to the development of the new policy.
ALSO READ: BOF Defends Repeal and Re-Enactment of 2024, 2025 Appropriation Acts
The Ministers reiterated the Federal Government’s resolve to uphold educational standards, promote equity, reduce the cost of education for parents, and guarantee that learners across Nigeria have access to high-quality instructional materials that support effective teaching and improved learning outcomes.