FG Rolls Out Reusable Textbook Policy to Cut Education Costs and Boost Sustainability

The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a new national policy framework aimed at reducing the cost of education for families, improving learning outcomes, and promoting environmental sustainability through the adoption of reusable, high-quality textbooks across schools.

The policy was jointly issued by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id, as part of broader reforms to reposition Nigeria’s education system and reduce the financial burden on parents.

Key Provisions of the New Textbook Policy

• Textbooks must be durable and reusable for 4–6 years
• Disposable workbooks are banned from being bundled with textbooks
• Books can be shared by siblings and reused across sessions
• Annual forced repurchase of books through minor cosmetic revisions is prohibited
• Textbook revisions must now involve substantive content improvements
• The number of approved textbooks per subject and grade is now strictly limited in line with global best practices

The government said the new policy will drastically cut the cost of education, curb exploitation by publishers, and eliminate waste generated by the yearly replacement of books.

Academic Calendar and Graduation Reforms

To further standardise education nationwide, the Federal Government has also introduced:

• A uniform national academic calendar to improve consistency in teaching and school planning
• A restriction of graduation ceremonies to only: – Primary 6
– JSS 3
– SSS 3

This move is intended to end excessive graduation ceremonies and the financial burden they place on parents.

Quality Control and Oversight

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to regulate and approve textbooks under a strengthened quality assurance system to ensure that all learning materials meet approved national standards.

The Federal Ministry of Education stated that the reforms will promote equity, affordability, quality learning, and sustainability, while protecting parents from exploitative textbook practices.