FG Bans Unranked Textbooks from Schools Starting September 2026

FG Bans Unranked Textbooks from Schools Starting September 2026
Under this new framework, all textbooks will undergo a structured national ranking process
Textbooks that meet the criteria will remain in circulation for a minimum of three years, which is expected to help ease the financial burden on families

The federal government has launched a national ranking system for textbooks used in primary, junior, and senior secondary schools across the country.

Contents

EDITOR’S PICK
FURTHER READING

Eko Hot Blog reports that this initiative aims to address the challenge of substandard textbooks flooding the educational system and ensure uniform quality in school learning materials.

EDITOR’S PICK

Announced by the Federal Ministry of Education on April 26, 2026, the new policy will see the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) continue its role in approving textbooks.

However, under this new framework, all textbooks will undergo a structured national ranking process. This ranking will be based on rigorous academic and pedagogical criteria to ensure only the highest quality materials are used in classrooms.

From September 2026, only textbooks that have been ranked will be permitted for use in schools. Any textbooks that are not ranked will be banned from classrooms, regardless of whether they were previously approved by the NERDC.

Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa and Minister of State Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad stated that the policy addresses concerns about the inconsistent quality of educational resources and the arbitrary selection of books by schools.

To facilitate this, subject-specific expert committees will evaluate textbooks for their compliance with the national curriculum and their effectiveness in teaching.

FG Launches Learner Identification Number to Track Students Nationwide — Tunji Alausa

The new initiative builds on earlier reforms launched in January 2026, which saw the creation of a Book Ranking and Selection Committee, chaired by Prof. Suwaiba Sai’d Ahmad. This committee, with NERDC acting as the secretariat, was tasked with creating quality benchmarks for textbooks.

It also worked on ensuring transparency in textbook pricing, differentiating between durable textbooks and consumable workbooks, and making sure that new editions of textbooks offer significant improvements rather than minor updates.

Under the new system, the number of textbooks approved for each subject will be capped. This measure, aimed at reducing confusion for teachers, parents, and students, will ensure that textbooks are of the highest quality and offer better value for money.

Additionally, textbooks that meet the criteria will remain in circulation for a minimum of three years, which is expected to help ease the financial burden on families.

NERDC will continue its engagements with stakeholders to finalize the evaluation framework, with the system set to fully roll out by September 2026.

This move is part of the government’s broader efforts to improve learning outcomes and ensure access to high-quality, standardised educational resources across the country.