The policy, unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id, focuses on the adoption of reusable, durable textbooks and stronger quality assurance measures within the education system.
According to the Ministry, the initiative is part of broader reforms designed to reposition Nigeria’s education sector and ease the growing financial burden on families. Under the new framework, textbooks approved for use in schools are expected to be of high quality and durable enough to last between four and six years.
The policy also bans the practice of attaching disposable workbooks to textbooks, a move the government says has forced parents to buy new books annually. With the new arrangement, textbooks can be reused across academic sessions and shared among siblings, leading to significant cost savings and reduced paper waste.
The Ministers noted that the reforms would also address concerns over frequent cosmetic revisions of textbooks that offer little or no improvement in content. Going forward, revisions will follow structured cycles and must reflect substantial updates, while the number of approved textbooks per subject and class will be limited in line with global best practices.
As part of efforts to ensure uniformity in the school system, the Federal Government has also introduced a harmonised academic calendar nationwide. In addition, graduation ceremonies have been streamlined, with only pupils and students completing Primary Six, Junior Secondary School Three, and Senior Secondary School Three permitted to hold such events.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council will continue to oversee the assessment and approval of instructional materials to ensure quality standards are maintained.
The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to equitable access to quality education and instructional materials, stressing that the new policy would enhance learning outcomes while supporting sustainable practices in schools nationwide.
