The Federal Government has approved reuse of high-quality textbooks in schools.
The FG also reduced graduation ceremonies in schools, saying only pupils and students who completed Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) will hold graduation ceremonies.
The Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suiwaba Sai’d, who announced this said the moves was part of ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s education sector.
They said the policy prioritises the use of standardised, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years.
They also announced the ban on the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks in schools.
“This approach is intended to ensure that learning materials can be reused across multiple academic sessions,” they said, adding that the measure would allow siblings to share textbooks, significantly lower recurring education costs for parents, and reduce waste within the school system.
They said the FG had streamlined a uniform academic calendar to promote consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning nationwide.
According to the ministers, the policy would strengthen assessment, quality assurance, selection, and use of textbooks and instructional materials across the country.
The reforms, they noted, eliminate frequent but cosmetic textbook revisions and practices that compel parents to purchase new textbooks annually without corresponding improvements in content.
The ministers said “under the new framework, textbook revisions must reflect substantive improvements in content rather than minor changes in layout or pagination, thereby extending the lifespan of approved textbooks and ensuring better value for money.”
The FG also set limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level as obtainable in Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania.
According to the ministers, “this measure is expected to improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection processes for schools and education authorities.”
“The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) 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.
“The Federal Government remains resolved to safeguard educational standards, promote equity, reduce costs for parents, and ensure that learners across Nigeria have access to high-quality instructional materials that support effective teaching and learning outcomes.”
