Abuja, Nigeria — Nigeria’s Federal Government has unveiled a sweeping overhaul of classroom materials, introducing a National Textbook Ranking System that will determine which books are permitted in schools nationwide.
Under the new policy, any textbook that fails to secure an official ranking will be barred from use in primary, junior, and senior secondary schools starting September 2026.
Announcing the move, Minister of Education Tunji Alausa said the initiative is designed to curb the proliferation of substandard materials and enforce stricter quality control across the education sector.
In a statement issued by ministry spokesperson Boriowo Folasade, the government confirmed that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council will retain its statutory role of approving textbooks, but with an added layer of national ranking to assess quality and suitability.
How the System Will Work
According to the ministry, approved textbooks will undergo a rigorous evaluation process conducted by subject-specific expert panels. Only a limited number of top-performing books in each subject will receive final clearance for classroom use.
“Only a limited number of top-ranked textbooks will be approved, ensuring improved quality control and consistency nationwide,” Alausa said.
The policy marks a significant shift from previous practice, where multiple approved textbooks could coexist without a standardized hierarchy of quality. Now, even previously licensed books risk exclusion if they fail to meet the new ranking criteria.
Backlash and Triggering Controversies
The announcement comes amid growing public concern over the content of educational materials used in Nigerian schools.
A recent flashpoint involved a Nigerian mother and content creator, Mary Queen, who went viral after criticizing a nursery school textbook that depicted an old man punishing a dog by burning it with a hot iron.
Her video, which drew millions of views, sparked widespread outrage—but also, she alleged, intimidation.
Mary Queen claimed she received threatening calls from individuals purportedly linked to the publisher’s legal team and was later invited for police questioning. Fearing for her safety, she deleted the original video, though the controversy has continued to generate debate online.
The case drew support from Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who condemned both the alleged threats and the textbook content, calling for a formal investigation.
Human rights lawyer Inibehe Effiong, who is representing the content creator, described the reported use of law enforcement to pursue a critic as “embarrassing” and indicative of deeper institutional issues.
Pattern of Content Disputes
The controversy is not isolated. In recent years, Nigerian textbooks have repeatedly sparked public backlash over claims of inappropriate or culturally sensitive content.
In 2023, lawmakers called for a nationwide ban on a widely used English textbook over alleged inclusion of age-inappropriate terms. Other incidents have involved mathematics examples criticized as suggestive, as well as debates over sex education materials and depictions of non-traditional family structures.
Such controversies have fuelled calls for tighter oversight, with parents and advocacy groups demanding stricter vetting processes to ensure that learning materials align with educational standards and societal expectations.
Balancing Quality and Control
While the government says the ranking system will improve learning outcomes and standardize educational resources, critics warn that implementation must strike a careful balance between quality control and overreach.
The Ministry of Education has pledged stakeholder engagement ahead of the September 2026 rollout, as well as the development of clear evaluation criteria.
For now, the policy signals a decisive shift: in Nigeria’s classrooms, not all textbooks will make the cut—and those that do will face unprecedented scrutiny.
