The Federal Government has approved the National Textbook Ranking System, NTRS, to ensure that only rigorously evaluated and nationally approved textbooks are used in public primary, junior secondary and senior secondary schools nationwide from September 2026.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, had announced the reform, describing it as a landmark step to raise learning quality in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Dr. Alausa said the NTRS establishes, for the first time, a transparent, merit-based and quality-driven framework that aligns Nigeria’s textbook approval process with international best practices.
"Under the new policy, NERDC licensing alone will no longer qualify a textbook for classroom use. Every licensed textbook must undergo a rigorous national evaluation and ranking process, attain a minimum score of 70 per cent and satisfy prescribed academic, pedagogical, technical and quality assurance standards before it can be approved."
According to the Minister, in a statement by Boriowo Folasade, Director Press and Public Relations Department, the system will strengthen curriculum implementation, improve learning outcomes, promote equity in access to quality materials, eliminate substandard textbooks and restore public confidence in education.
A National Textbook Ranking and Selection Committee has been constituted with representatives of relevant education agencies and experts. Working with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, the Committee will assess only textbooks that have met NERDC licensing requirements.
Only the highest ranked titles will be recommended for the Minister’s approval.
For each subject, between 6 and 10 best-performing textbooks will be adopted.
Approved titles will remain valid for a minimum of 3 years to ensure stability in curriculum delivery.
In a relief for publishers, NERDC has reduced assessment and ranking fees:
Assessment fee: from ₦2,000 to ₦1,500 per page
Ranking fee: from ₦1 million to ₦750,000 per title
Publishers who paid the former rates will receive refunds, with reimbursement arrangements to be communicated by NERDC.
Beginning September 2026, only textbooks evaluated, ranked and approved under NTRS will be authorised for use in public schools nationwide.
The policy will be monitored by NERDC and other regulatory agencies.
The Ministry warned that the use of unapproved textbooks will attract sanctions, including blacklisting of defaulting authors, publishers and schools.
"The Federal Government remains unwavering in its commitment to providing every Nigerian learner with world class instructional materials that promote excellence in teaching and learning," Dr. Alausa said.