The Federal Government has announced plans to blacklist schools, publishers and authors that use or distribute unapproved textbooks in public schools, unveiling a new National Textbook Ranking System aimed at improving the quality of education across Nigeria.
Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the policy will take effect from September 2026, when only textbooks that have been nationally evaluated, ranked and approved will be permitted in public primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools.
According to the ministry, the initiative establishes a transparent, merit-based framework for selecting instructional materials and aligns Nigeria’s textbook approval process with international best practices.
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Alausa said the reform is designed to improve curriculum implementation, enhance learning outcomes, eliminate substandard textbooks and restore public confidence in the country’s education system.
The ministry has constituted a National Textbook Ranking and Selection Committee made up of representatives from education agencies and independent experts. Working with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, the committee will evaluate licensed textbooks before recommending the highest-ranked titles for ministerial approval.
The minister explained that NERDC licensing alone will no longer qualify a textbook for classroom use.
Instead, every licensed textbook must pass a rigorous national assessment, achieve a minimum score of 70 per cent and satisfy academic, pedagogical, technical and quality assurance standards before approval.
Only the best-performing textbooks will be approved, with the number of titles per subject limited to between six and 10.
To reduce costs for publishers and authors, the government also announced a reduction in assessment and ranking fees. Assessment fees have been lowered from ₦2,000 to ₦1,500 per page, while ranking fees have been reduced from ₦1 million to ₦750,000 per title.
Publishers who paid the previous rates will receive refunds through the NERDC.
Approved textbooks will remain valid for at least three years, providing greater stability in curriculum delivery.
The minister warned that compliance would be strictly enforced, saying schools, publishers and authors found using unapproved textbooks from September 2026 would face sanctions, including blacklisting.
The Federal Ministry of Education said the policy underscores the government’s commitment to ensuring Nigerian students have access to high-quality instructional materials that improve teaching, learning and educational outcomes nationwide.
