Nigeria to Ban Unrated Textbooks in Schools by 2026

The Federal Government of Nigeria announced plans to ban unrated textbooks in schools effective September 2026, as part of an initiative to enhance the quality of education in the country. This decision was communicated in a statement issued by Folasad Boriowo, the Director of Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Education.

The government will implement a national textbook ranking system for primary, junior, and senior secondary schools, aimed at curbing the proliferation of substandard textbooks and ensuring that materials used in classrooms are compliant with the curriculum and of high quality. The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will retain its statutory responsibility for textbook approval, which will now undergo a structured national ranking process to identify suitable options at various subject levels.

A standing subject committee of experts will conduct detailed assessments based on academic and pedagogical standards. The new policy will not permit the use of textbooks that are unrated, regardless of their previous approval status.