The Federal Government has barred graduation ceremonies for pupils below Primary Six and ordered schools to adopt reusable, high-quality textbooks as part of sweeping reforms aimed at cutting education costs, improving learning outcomes and promoting sustainability.
The new policy framework was unveiled on Friday by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suiwaba Sai’d, signalling a decisive shift in how instructional materials are produced, selected and used across Nigeria’s school system.
Under the guidelines, only pupils and students completing Primary Six, Junior Secondary School Three and Senior Secondary School Three will be allowed to hold graduation ceremonies, a move the government said would ease the growing financial burden placed on parents by frequent, often unnecessary school celebrations.
At the heart of the reforms is a directive mandating the use of standardised and durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years. Schools have also been expressly barred from bundling disposable workbooks with textbooks, a practice long criticised for forcing parents to buy new materials annually.
According to the ministers, the policy is structured to ensure learning materials can be reused across multiple academic sessions, enabling siblings to share textbooks, reducing waste and delivering better value for money.
In a complementary move, the Federal Government has introduced a uniform academic calendar nationwide to promote consistency in teaching, learning and school planning.
The ministers said the reforms respond to persistent concerns over cosmetic textbook revisions that offer little improvement in content but compel parents to make repeated purchases. Going forward, textbook revisions will only be approved where they reflect substantive improvements, rather than minor changes in layout or pagination.
The framework also places limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, aligning Nigeria with international best practices observed in countries such as Japan, Kenya and Tanzania. Officials believe this will improve quality, reduce market saturation and simplify textbook selection for schools and education authorities.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council will continue to oversee the assessment and quality assurance of instructional materials, working with relevant agencies to ensure all approved textbooks are fully aligned with the national curriculum.
Reaffirming its commitment to education renewal, the Federal Government commended the Universal Basic Education Commission, NERDC and other technical partners for their roles in shaping the policy.
The ministers said the reforms underscore the government’s resolve to protect educational standards, promote equity, reduce costs for families and ensure learners nationwide have access to quality materials that support effective teaching and meaningful learning outcomes.
