Nigeria introduces Textbook Ranking System for schools, colleges for quality assurance

*The Federal Ministry of Education directs the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council to constitute Standing Subject Committees, comprising experts to perform detailed evaluations of existing textbooks, based on clearly defined academic and pedagogical standards towards improving quality assurance and standardisation in the country’s education sector

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In line with its efforts at improving quality assurance and standardisation in the education sector, the Nigerian Government has introduced a National Textbook Ranking System for primary, junior, and senior secondary schools across the country.

ConsumerConnect reports the Federal Ministry of Education said the initiative was also designed to address the proliferation of manner of textbooks, while ensuring that only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials are approved for use in schools and colleges in Nigeria.

Commenting on the measure, Dr. Tunji Alausa, Honourable Minister for Education, together with Suwaiba Ahmad, Honourable Minister of State for Education, however, said that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) would retain its statutory responsibility of approving textbooks.

The Ministers emphasised that all approved textbooks still wound undergo a structured national ranking process to determine the most suitable options for each subject and level of education in the West African country.

The Federal Ministry of Education, which disclosed this in a statement Sunday, April 26, 2026, noted that the NERDC would set up standing subject committees comprising experts to perform detailed evaluations, based on clearly defined academic and pedagogical standards.

The Federal Government further said that only a limited number of top-ranked textbooks would eventually be approved for use.

According to the government, the measure would strengthen quality control mechanism, and ensure consistency across schools and colleges in Nigeria.

The statement also indicated that any textbook not included in the ranking would not be permitted for use, regardless of its previous approval or licensing status in the education sector of the economy.

Ministers: Implementation begins September 2026

The Nigerian Government noted the implementation of the new policy is expected to begin September 2026, after stakeholder consultations and the completion of the evaluation framework.

The government, therefore, restated its commitment to improving learning outcomes, and expanding access to high-quality educational materials for students across Nigeria.