Publishers Warn Against New Textbook Ranking Policy

The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA), represented by its chairman Mr. Lukman Dauda, has raised alarms regarding the Federal Ministry of Education's recently announced textbook ranking policy. The NPA argues that this policy, which is set to be implemented by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), lacks transparency and could jeopardize educational development in the country.

The association, which comprises 200 publishing firms, submitted a petition to the Senate Committee on Education, led by Lawal Adamu Usman, expressing that the proposed policy poses significant risks to educational access and affordability. They claim it could create a crisis in the supply of textbooks, increase the cost of learning materials, and disrupt the autonomy of schools.

The NPA has called for broader consultations involving stakeholders such as state governments, teachers, and educational boards before proceeding with the policy, warning that it could undermine fair competition and damage the local publishing industry.