The federal government of Nigeria has announced plans to prohibit the use of unrated textbooks in schools starting from September 2026, as part of efforts to improve education quality and standardisation nationwide.
The policy follows the introduction of a National Textbook Ranking System covering primary, junior and senior secondary schools.
The initiative is designed to tackle the widespread use of substandard and non-compliant learning materials in classrooms.
In a statement issued by the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Folasade Boriowo, the government said the new system would ensure that only high-quality, curriculum-aligned textbooks are approved for use.
Under the framework, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will retain its statutory responsibility of approving textbooks.
However, all approved materials will now undergo an additional national ranking process to determine their suitability across subjects and levels.
To implement this, the NERDC will set up Standing Subject Committees made up of education experts to evaluate textbooks based on academic content and teaching effectiveness.
According to the government, only a limited number of top-ranked textbooks will be approved for classroom use, a move aimed at strengthening quality control and ensuring consistency across the education system.
The ministry also clarified that any textbook not ranked under the new system will be banned from schools, regardless of its previous approval status.
Authorities said consultations with stakeholders are ongoing, while work continues on the evaluation framework ahead of the rollout.
