Nigeria Sets 70% Benchmark for Textbook Quality Standards

The Nigerian Government has set a new benchmark of 70% for textbooks to qualify for national ranking, announced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, in Abuja. This decision follows a national textbook assessment that revealed some submitted books scored as low as 25%.

The initiative is part of the broader quality assurance efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, especially after the revised national curriculum's implementation scheduled for September 2025. Alausa emphasized that the assessment aimed to ensure textbooks meet acceptable quality standards and align with the curriculum.

The assessment examined various factors, including language, instructional design, and gender sensitivity. Alausa urged publishers whose books fell below the benchmark to address deficiencies and resubmit their works.

The national textbook assessment will occur in three cycles, covering different educational levels, and the national curriculum will be reviewed every three years to remain relevant to educational developments.