The Federal Government has introduced a National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior and senior secondary schools in a move aimed at strengthening quality assurance and standardisation across Nigeria’s education sector.
The initiative, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education on Sunday, is designed to address the growing proliferation of textbooks and ensure that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials are approved for use in classrooms nationwide.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the reform would enhance learning outcomes by guiding schools toward the most suitable and academically sound textbooks.
“This initiative is a critical step toward sanitising the textbook ecosystem in Nigeria. For too long, schools have been overwhelmed by a flood of materials of varying quality. With this system, we will ensure that only the best, curriculum-aligned textbooks are recommended for our learners,” Alausa said.
He noted that while the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) would retain its statutory responsibility for textbook approval, a new layer of evaluation would be introduced.
“NERDC will continue to approve textbooks as required by law, but we are introducing a transparent and rigorous ranking mechanism to guide schools in selecting the most suitable options for each subject and level,” he added.
Also speaking, the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad, explained that approved textbooks would now undergo a structured national ranking process to determine the best options for each subject and level.
“This is not about limiting access to books, but about improving quality. By ranking approved textbooks, we are helping schools, teachers and parents make informed choices based on clearly defined academic and pedagogical standards,” she said.
According to the ministry, the NERDC will set up Standing Subject Committees made up of subject-matter experts to carry out rigorous assessments.
“Only a limited number of top-ranked textbooks will be approved for use in schools. Any textbook that is not ranked will no longer be permitted, regardless of prior approval status,” the ministry stated.
The government said implementation of the ranking system will begin in September 2026, following consultations with stakeholders and the completion of the evaluation framework.
Reaffirming government’s commitment to education reform, Alausa said.“Our goal is simple to improve learning outcomes and ensure that every Nigerian child has access to high-quality, reliable and standardised learning materials across the country.”