The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a new 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 initiative, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education, is aimed at addressing the growing number of textbooks in circulation while ensuring that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials are used in classrooms across the nation.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Suwaiba Ahmad, explained that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council will continue to perform its statutory duty of approving textbooks. However, all approved books will now undergo an additional national ranking process.
According to the ministry, the ranking system will evaluate textbooks to determine the most suitable options for each subject and educational level. To achieve this, the NERDC will establish subject-based committees made up of experts who will assess textbooks using clearly defined academic and teaching standards.
Under the new policy, only a select number of top-performing textbooks will be recommended for use in schools. This approach is expected to strengthen quality control, promote consistency in teaching materials, and enhance learning outcomes for students.
The government also emphasized that any textbook not included in the official ranking will not be allowed for classroom use, regardless of any previous approval or licensing status.
Implementation of the textbook ranking system is scheduled to begin in September 2026, following consultations with key stakeholders and the completion of the evaluation framework.
The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to improving education standards by ensuring that students across Nigeria have access to reliable, high-quality learning resources.
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