FG to phase out unranked textbooks in schools from September 2026

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to introduce a National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior secondary, and senior secondary schools as part of broader reforms aimed at improving educational quality and standardisation across the country.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the initiative was described as a measure to tackle the spread of substandard learning materials and ensure that only curriculum-aligned, high-quality textbooks are used in schools.

The ministry explained that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to serve as the statutory body responsible for approving textbooks.

“Approved textbooks will now be subjected to a structured national ranking process to determine the most appropriate materials for each subject and class level,” the statement noted.

According to the Federal Government, the NERDC will set up Standing Subject Committees comprising academic and subject experts to conduct thorough evaluations based on educational and pedagogical standards.

It added that only a select number of top-performing textbooks will be retained for use in schools in order to strengthen quality assurance and ensure uniform standards nationwide.

“Only textbooks that achieve top rankings will be approved for classroom use, thereby ensuring stricter quality control and consistency across the education system,” the statement said.

The ministry further disclosed that any textbook not assessed and ranked under the new framework will no longer be permitted for use in schools, even if it had been previously approved.

“Any textbook that does not go through the ranking process will be disqualified for use, regardless of earlier approval,” it added.

Implementation of the policy is scheduled to commence in September 2026, following consultations with stakeholders and completion of the evaluation framework.

The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to improving learning outcomes and ensuring that students have access to reliable and high-standard instructional materials.