The Federal Government, through the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), has introduced a comprehensive reform of the country’s textbook approval system, requiring publishers and other stakeholders to submit educational materials for a new round of evaluation, revalidation, and ranking under an enhanced quality assurance regime.
The directive was announced in a public statement issued by the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Salisu Shehu, who revealed that the council is commencing the first phase of its 2026 textbook assessment and ranking exercise as part of efforts to improve the quality of instructional materials used in schools across Nigeria.
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A major feature of the initiative is the introduction of a formal ranking mechanism for textbooks; a move expected to encourage higher standards among publishers and provide schools with clearer guidance on the quality of learning resources available for classroom use.
Under the revised framework, all textbooks—including those that had previously received approval for the affected class categories—must undergo fresh evaluation to meet newly established quality benchmarks and ranking criteria.
NERDC explained that the nationwide exercise will be implemented in three stages. The first phase will focus on textbooks and learning resources intended for Primary One, Primary Four, Junior Secondary School One (JSS1), and Senior Secondary School One (SSS1), while subsequent phases will address materials for other educational levels.
According to the council, submissions for the first phase will commence on June 8, 2026, and end on June 19, 2026. It stressed that applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
The notice stated that all books and instructional resources seeking inclusion in the ranking exercise must first pass through a strengthened assessment process designed around newly approved standards and performance indicators.
NERDC urged publishers, authors, printers, distributors, and other stakeholders within the publishing industry to familiarize themselves with the updated Book Quality Guidelines and Submission Procedures available on the council’s official platform and ensure full compliance.
The council further disclosed that the review and ranking process for all submitted materials is expected to be completed by July 31, 2026, after which the list of approved and ranked textbooks will be released for use in schools.
Prof. Shehu emphasized that strict adherence to the revised procedures is essential, noting that the new initiative is aimed at enhancing learning outcomes, promoting excellence in educational publishing, and supporting the effective delivery of the national curriculum in classrooms nationwide.
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