The Federal Government has unveiled a new policy aimed at reducing the cost of education for parents, improving learning outcomes, and promoting environmental sustainability through the adoption of reusable, high-quality textbooks in schools nationwide.
The policy was jointly issued by the Minister of Education, Dr 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 and ease the financial burden on families.
Under the new framework, schools are mandated to adopt standardised and durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years. The policy also prohibits the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks, a practice that often forces parents to purchase new learning materials annually.
According to the ministers, the initiative will enable siblings to share textbooks, significantly reduce recurring education expenses for parents, and minimise waste within the school system, thereby supporting environmental sustainability.
They further disclosed that the Federal Government has introduced a uniform academic calendar nationwide to promote consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning.
This was contained in a statement issued on Friday, 9 January, by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folasade.
As part of measures to curb unnecessary expenses, the new policy also streamlines graduation ceremonies in schools. Under the guidelines, only pupils and students completing Primary Six, Junior Secondary School Three (JSS3) and Senior Secondary School Three (SSS3) will be permitted to hold graduation ceremonies.
The ministers said the policy strengthens the assessment, selection and quality assurance of textbooks and instructional materials across the country, addressing long-standing concerns over frequent but superficial textbook revisions, weak ranking standards and practices that compel parents to buy new books yearly without meaningful content improvements.
A key feature of the framework is the introduction of structured and substantive revision cycles, requiring that any textbook update reflects clear improvements in content rather than minor changes in layout or pagination. This, they said, would extend the lifespan of approved textbooks and ensure better value for money.
The policy also places limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, in line with international best practices in countries such as Japan, Kenya and Tanzania, a move expected to improve quality, reduce market saturation and simplify textbook selection for schools.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to oversee the assessment and quality assurance of instructional materials, in collaboration with relevant agencies, to ensure that only curriculum-aligned and high-quality textbooks are approved for nationwide use.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to sustained education reforms and commended the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), NERDC and other technical partners for their roles in developing the policy.
The government also restated its resolve to protect educational standards, promote equity, reduce costs for parents and ensure learners across Nigeria have access to quality instructional materials that support effective teaching and learning.
