Nigeria to Rank Textbooks, Ban Unranked Books from Schools Starting September 2026

Nigeria will implement a National Textbook Ranking System across all primary, junior, and senior secondary schools. Starting September 2026, only ranked textbooks will be permissible for classroom use, banning all unranked materials.

The Nigerian federal government announced a significant reform targeting the nation's education sector. Minister of Education Tunji Alausa stated the new policy seeks to control the proliferation of textbooks and ensure only high-quality, curriculum-compliant materials reach students. The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), which currently approves textbooks, will now also rank them through a rigorous national evaluation process. This expanded role aims to identify the most suitable and highest-quality resources for each subject and educational level. This move aligns Nigeria with global efforts to standardize instructional materials.

The federal government established a National Textbook Ranking System covering primary, junior, and senior secondary schools. This initiative aims to streamline the selection of learning resources nationwide. Textbooks that do not achieve a ranking under this new system will face prohibition from classroom use. This ban will apply regardless of any prior licensing status these books may hold, underscoring a commitment to current standards. The policy officially commences with the September 2026 academic session. Nationwide sensitization efforts will precede and support its implementation to ensure compliance among educators and stakeholders.

This policy signifies a shift towards stricter quality assurance within Nigeria's educational system. It aims to eliminate substandard materials and provide students with reliable, high-standard resources, ultimately strengthening learning outcomes. Publishers face pressure to meet stringent new ranking criteria, potentially leading to a more competitive and quality-focused market. Schools and teachers will adapt to a more curated list of approved learning materials, simplifying textbook selection but possibly reducing pedagogical choice. Monitoring the implementation of the NERDC's evaluation process and its initial effects on classroom resources and student performance will be crucial next steps.