The Federal Government has introduced a new policy framework to cut education costs for parents, improve learning outcomes, and promote sustainability in schools through the compulsory use of reusable, high-quality textbooks.
The policy was unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Said, as part of ongoing reforms to reposition the education sector.
Under the new guidelines, only pupils in Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) will be allowed to hold graduation ceremonies. All other classes are barred from organising such events, which the government says place unnecessary financial pressure on families.
The government also ordered schools to adopt standardized, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years. The policy prohibits the sale of disposable workbooks bundled with textbooks.
According to the ministers, the initiative will allow learning materials to be reused across multiple academic sessions, enable siblings to share books, significantly reduce education costs for parents, and minimise waste in the school system.
They noted that the reforms were prompted by complaints over frequent but cosmetic textbook revisions that force parents to buy new books yearly without meaningful improvements in content.
“Under the new framework, textbook revisions must reflect substantive improvements in content rather than minor changes in layout or pagination,” the ministers said, adding that the measure would extend the lifespan of approved textbooks and ensure better value for money.
The policy also places a cap on the number of approved textbooks per subject to improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection for schools.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to oversee quality assurance and ensure that only curriculum-aligned textbooks are approved for use.
The ministers reaffirmed the government’s commitment to safeguarding educational standards, promoting equity, reducing costs for parents, and ensuring that learners across Nigeria have access to quality education.
