In a bid to reduce the financial strain on parents and promote sustainability in the education sector, the Federal Government of Nigeria has introduced a comprehensive policy framework. This initiative aims to improve learning outcomes and make education more affordable through the adoption of reusable, high-quality textbooks and strengthened quality assurance mechanisms.

The policy, jointly launched by the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Sa’id, is part of the government's ongoing efforts to reform Nigeria's education sector. The Ministers explained that the policy prioritizes standardised, durable textbooks designed to last four to six years, thereby allowing them to be reused across multiple academic sessions. This move will enable siblings to share learning materials, significantly lower recurring costs for parents, and reduce waste, ultimately supporting environmental sustainability.

Furthermore, the policy expressly prohibits the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks, ensuring that only essential materials are purchased. In addition to the reusable textbook policy, the Federal Government has introduced a uniform academic calendar to promote consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning nationwide. The government has also streamlined graduation ceremonies, limiting them to only pupils and students completing Primary 6, JSS3, and SSS3.

The new policy strengthens the assessment, selection, and quality assurance of instructional materials, addressing concerns over frequent cosmetic textbook revisions and practices that compel parents to purchase new books annually without improved content. The policy now requires substantive content improvements in structured revision cycles, while limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade align with international best practices.

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to lead textbook quality assurance, ensuring that educational materials meet the required standards. The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed its commitment to education reform, equity, and access to high-quality instructional materials nationwide, a move that is expected to have a positive impact on the country's education sector.