The Federal Ministry of Education Nigeria has unveiled a nationwide textbook ranking system aimed at improving the quality of learning materials used in primary and secondary schools.
Announced on 26 April 2026, the policy introduces a structured evaluation process that will rank all approved textbooks using strict academic and teaching standards. The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue approving books but will now subject them to an additional national ranking system.
Under the new framework, only top-ranked textbooks will be allowed in classrooms from September 2026. Any unranked books—regardless of previous approval—will be banned from use in schools.
Education Minister Tunji Alausa and Minister of State Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad said the reform tackles long-standing concerns about poor-quality materials and inconsistent textbook selection across schools.
Expert subject committees will assess books for curriculum alignment, clarity, and teaching effectiveness. The goal is to ensure that only high-quality, reliable materials reach students nationwide.
The initiative builds on reforms launched earlier in January 2026, when a national Book Ranking and Selection Committee was set up to define quality benchmarks and improve transparency. The committee also introduced measures to distinguish between durable textbooks and consumable workbooks, while discouraging unnecessary new editions that offer little academic improvement.
To simplify choices for parents and schools, the number of approved textbooks per subject will be limited, reportedly to about seven in some cases. Ranked books will remain in circulation for at least three years, reducing the frequency of costly replacements.
The government said the policy responds directly to complaints from parents and educators about rising costs and frequent textbook changes that add little value to learning.
NERDC is expected to continue stakeholder consultations before finalising the evaluation framework ahead of the September rollout.
Officials say the reform is part of a broader push to standardise education and improve learning outcomes across Nigeria through better-quality teaching resources.
