Nigeria Introduces National Textbook Ranking System

On April 26, 2026, the Federal Ministry of Education in Nigeria announced the implementation of a National Textbook Ranking System, which will apply to all primary, junior, and senior secondary schools. This initiative, led by Minister Tunji Alausa and Minister of State Suwaiba Sai D. Ahmad, aims to ensure that textbooks used in classrooms comply with the curriculum.

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will oversee the approval process, introducing a nationwide ranking system to determine suitable textbooks for each subject level. Only the top-ranked textbooks will be approved, and those that fail to meet the ranking criteria will no longer be permitted in schools, regardless of previous approval status.

This policy is set to take effect in September 2026, following consultations with stakeholders to finalize the evaluation framework. The government emphasizes that this reform is part of a broader effort to improve educational outcomes and ensure students have access to reliable and standardized educational content.