The Federal Government has announced a new policy framework aimed at easing the financial burden on parents, improving learning outcomes, and promoting sustainability in schools through the use of reusable, high-quality textbooks.
The policy was unveiled on Friday by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaba Sai’d, as part of ongoing reforms to reposition Nigeria’s education sector.
Under the new framework, schools are to adopt standardized and durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years, while the practice of bundling disposable workbooks with textbooks has been prohibited. The ministers said the approach would ensure that learning materials are reused across multiple academic sessions, allow siblings to share textbooks, significantly reduce recurring education costs for parents, and cut down waste in the school system.
The Federal Government also introduced a uniform academic calendar nationwide to promote consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning. In addition, graduation ceremonies have been streamlined to reduce financial pressure on families, with only pupils and students completing Primary Six, Junior Secondary School Three (JSS 3), and Senior Secondary School Three( SS3) permitted to hold such ceremonies.
The ministers explained that the policy strengthens the assessment, quality assurance, selection, and use of textbooks and other instructional materials across the country. They noted that the reforms address longstanding concerns over frequent but superficial textbook revisions that force parents to buy new books every year without meaningful improvements in content.
A major feature of the policy is the introduction of structured and meaningful revision cycles, requiring that any textbook review reflect substantial content improvements rather than minor changes in layout or pagination. This, they said, would extend the lifespan of approved textbooks and offer better value for money.
The framework also places limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, in line with international best practices observed in countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania. According to the ministers, the measure is expected to improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection for schools and education authorities.
They added that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council will continue to play a central role in assessing and assuring the quality of instructional materials, working with relevant agencies to ensure that only curriculum-aligned textbooks are approved for use in schools.
Reaffirming the government’s commitment to education reform, the ministers commended the Universal Basic Education Commission, NERDC, and other technical partners for their contributions to the new framework, stressing that the Federal Government remains determined to safeguard educational standards, promote equity, reduce costs for parents, and ensure access to quality instructional materials nationwide.
