FG Sets 70% Benchmark for Textbook Quality in Schools

The Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a 70% minimum benchmark for textbooks to qualify for national ranking, as revealed by the first national textbook assessment conducted by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC). The assessment uncovered substantial quality gaps, with some textbooks scoring as low as 25%.

During the report presentation in Abuja, Minister of Education Dr Tunji Alausa stated that the government would no longer accept poorly written or inaccurate textbooks in schools. He described many current textbooks as "trash" and questioned their suitability for educating Nigerian children.

The 70% threshold aims to ensure that only high-quality textbooks appear on the national ranked list, establishing a transparent quality-control system. Alausa urged publishers to address deficiencies in their materials and resubmit them for consideration.

The assessment aligns with the revised national curriculum introduced in September 2025, with curriculum alignment accounting for 51% of the overall score, alongside other criteria such as language, instructional design, and cultural compliance.