FG Introduces National Textbook Ranking System to Standardise School Materials

The Federal Government has unveiled a new National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior and senior secondary schools aimed at curbing the proliferation of textbooks and ensuring that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials are used in classrooms.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed that the system will commence in September 2026.

Under the new framework, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to approve textbooks, but approved titles will now undergo a structured national evaluation process to determine and rank the most suitable and highest-quality options for each subject and education level.

As part of the reform, NERDC will establish Standing Subject Committees made up of education experts who will conduct rigorous assessments based on academic standards, content quality, and pedagogical effectiveness.

According to the Ministry, the initiative is designed to reduce confusion among teachers, students, and parents caused by the excessive number of textbooks currently in circulation. It also seeks to improve learning outcomes, enhance quality assurance, and align Nigeria’s education system with global best practices in instructional material standardisation.