The Federal Government has introduced a National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior and senior secondary schools as part of efforts to improve quality and standardisation in Nigeria’s education sector.
The initiative, announced in a statement by the Federal Ministry of Education on April 26, is 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, and the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, said the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) would retain its statutory role of approving textbooks.
They, however, explained that approved books would now undergo a structured national ranking process to determine the most suitable options for each subject and level.
According to the ministry, “the initiative aims to ensure that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials are approved for classroom use.”
Under the new policy, NERDC will establish Standing Subject Committees made up of experts to conduct rigorous evaluations based on academic and pedagogical standards.
“Only a limited number of top-ranked textbooks will be approved, ensuring improved quality control and consistency nationwide,” the statement said.
The ministry added that any textbook that fails to secure a ranking under the new system would not be permitted for use, regardless of previous approval status.
Implementation of the policy is expected to commence in September 2026 after consultations with stakeholders and completion of the evaluation framework.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to improving learning outcomes and ensuring that students across the country have access to high-quality educational resources.