Education Minister Tunji Alausa inaugurated the committee, which is tasked with improving textbook quality and affordability in Nigerian schools. The committee is led by the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Ahmad, and includes representatives from major education bodies such as the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), the National Teachers’ Institute, and the National Senior Secondary Education Commission.
Alausa pointed out flaws in the current system, where textbooks are approved without proper quality checks, leading to some subjects having up to 50 approved books with no clear standards. He criticized publishers for bundling workbooks with textbooks, forcing parents to buy new materials every year and increasing financial strain.
The committee’s responsibilities include reviewing the approval process, setting strict quality benchmarks, improving ranking systems, and ensuring content updates are meaningful before new editions are approved. It will also tackle pricing transparency, control unnecessary new editions, and separate textbooks from disposable workbooks.
Under the new system, only seven top-ranked textbooks per subject will be officially recommended for schools, especially under UBEC. Once ranked, these books will remain in use for at least three years unless major curriculum or technological changes require updates.
Ahmad assured that the committee would fix gaps in the current system by standardizing and properly ranking textbooks. She noted that while books meeting minimum standards are approved, there’s no grading system to distinguish quality levels.
NERDC’s Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu, added that the initiative would eliminate arbitrary book selections in schools, ensuring only the best materials are used nationwide. The NERDC will serve as the committee’s secretariat.
