The Federal Government has introduced a wide-ranging policy framework designed to lower the cost of education for parents, enhance learning outcomes, and promote sustainability in schools through the use of durable, reusable textbooks and stronger quality assurance systems.
In a statement released on Friday in Abuja, the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, disclosed that the policy was jointly approved by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suiwaba Sa’id.
She explained that the policy is part of ongoing reforms aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s education sector while easing the financial burden faced by families.
According to the ministers, the framework prioritises the adoption of standardised, high-quality textbooks built to last between four and six years. It also expressly bans the practice of bundling disposable workbooks with textbooks, a move intended to ensure learning materials can be reused over several academic sessions.
They noted that this approach will enable siblings to share textbooks, significantly reduce repeated education expenses for parents, and cut down waste in the school system, thereby supporting environmental sustainability.
As part of broader sector reforms, the Federal Government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar to improve consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning nationwide.
The ministers further announced new guidelines to streamline graduation ceremonies in order to reduce unnecessary financial pressure on parents. Under the policy, graduation ceremonies will now be limited to pupils and students completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3).
In addition, the policy strengthens the processes for assessing, selecting, and approving textbooks and other instructional materials across the country. The reforms address long-standing concerns about frequent but superficial textbook revisions, weak quality standards, and practices that force parents to purchase new textbooks every year without meaningful improvements in content or learning outcomes.
The statement revealed that a major feature of the policy is the introduction of structured and meaningful revision cycles. Under the new framework, textbook revisions must demonstrate substantial improvements in content rather than minor changes in layout or pagination, ensuring longer textbook lifespan and better value for money.
The ministers also highlighted that the policy places limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, aligning Nigeria with international best practices observed in countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania. This is expected to improve quality, 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 textbook assessment and quality assurance, working closely with relevant education agencies to ensure that only high-quality, curriculum-aligned instructional materials are approved for use nationwide.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to education reform and commended the Universal Basic Education Commission, NERDC, and other technical partners for their contributions to the development of the new policy.
The ministers reiterated the Federal Government’s determination to protect educational standards, promote equity, reduce costs for parents, and ensure that learners across Nigeria have access to quality instructional materials that support effective teaching and improved learning outcomes.
