FG Sets 70% Benchmark for Textbook Quality in Schools

The Federal Government of Nigeria has established a 70% minimum score for textbooks to qualify for national ranking, as announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, in Abuja. This decision follows the first national textbook assessment, which revealed that some submitted textbooks scored as low as 25%.

The initiative is part of the government's quality assurance efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, particularly in light of the revised national curriculum set to be implemented in September 2025. The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) developed a standardized assessment toolkit to evaluate textbooks based on international best practices.

The assessment focused on curriculum alignment, language and style, instructional design, technical features, social and cultural compliance, and gender sensitivity. Publishers whose submissions did not meet the benchmark will have the opportunity to correct deficiencies and resubmit their materials.

Alausa criticized the poor quality of some textbooks, stating that they do not meet educational standards.