The Federal Government has unveiled a new National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior, and senior secondary schools, aimed at improving the quality and standardisation of educational materials across Nigeria.
In a statement released on Sunday by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the Ministry of Education explained that the initiative is part of broader efforts to eliminate substandard textbooks from the nation’s education system.
According to the ministry, the new system will ensure that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant textbooks are used in classrooms nationwide.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to oversee the approval of textbooks. However, under the new framework, all approved textbooks will now go through a structured national ranking process.
This process will determine the most suitable textbooks for each subject and educational level.
To achieve this, the NERDC will establish Standing Subject Committees, comprising education experts who will assess textbooks based on academic and pedagogical standards.
The government stated that only a limited number of top-ranked textbooks will be approved for use in schools. This move is expected to strengthen quality control and ensure consistency in teaching materials across the country.
Importantly, the policy makes it clear that:
Any textbook that is not ranked under the new system will not be permitted for use in schools, regardless of any previous approval.
The Ministry of Education disclosed that the new ranking system will take effect from September 2026, following consultations with key stakeholders and the completion of the evaluation framework.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing learning outcomes and ensuring that students have access to reliable and high-quality educational resources.