The Federal Government has unveiled a new policy framework aimed at significantly reducing the cost of education for parents while improving learning outcomes and promoting environmental sustainability through the use of reusable, high-quality textbooks in schools across the country.
The policy, jointly issued by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id, forms part of ongoing reforms to reposition Nigeria’s education sector and ease the growing financial burden on families.
Under the new framework, priority is placed on the adoption of standardised and durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years. The policy expressly prohibits the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks, a practice that often compels parents to make repeated purchases each academic session.
According to the Ministers, the shift will allow textbooks to be reused across multiple years, enable siblings to share learning materials, significantly reduce recurring expenses for parents, and minimise paper waste in support of environmental sustainability.
The policy also addresses concerns over frequent cosmetic revisions of textbooks that add little educational value. Structured revision cycles have been introduced to ensure that updates are driven by substantive academic improvements, while limits have been placed on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade, in line with international best practices.
As part of the reforms, the Federal Government has introduced a uniform academic calendar to ensure consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning nationwide. Graduation ceremonies have also been streamlined, with only pupils and students completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) permitted to hold such ceremonies.
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The framework further strengthens mechanisms for the assessment, selection, and quality assurance of instructional materials, with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) maintaining its central role in textbook evaluation and approval.
Reaffirming its commitment to education reform, equity, and access, the Federal Ministry of Education said the new measures are designed to guarantee the availability of high-quality instructional materials while making education more affordable and sustainable for Nigerian families.
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