The Federal Government has introduced a National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior, and senior secondary schools as part of efforts to improve quality assurance and standardisation in the country’s education sector.
The Federal Ministry of Education said the initiative was also designed to address the proliferation of textbooks and ensure that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials are approved for use in classrooms nationwide.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, explained that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council would retain its statutory responsibility of approving textbooks.
They, however, noted that all approved textbooks would now undergo a structured national ranking process to determine the most suitable options for each subject and level.
According to the ministry, in a statement issued on Sunday, the NERDC will set up standing subject committees made up of experts to carry out detailed evaluations based on clearly defined academic and pedagogical standards.
It said that only a limited number of top-ranked textbooks would eventually be approved for use, a move the government says would strengthen quality control and ensure consistency across schools.
The ministry also stated that any textbook not included in the ranking would not be permitted for use, regardless of its previous approval or licensing status.
Implementation of the new policy is expected to begin in September 2026 after stakeholder consultations and the completion of the evaluation framework.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to improving learning outcomes and expanding access to high-quality educational materials for students across the country.
