Why Nigeria introduce policy on reusable textbooks and bar graduation ceremony for pre-Pry 6, SS3 pupils

Nigeria govment don introduce one ogbonge education policy wey go make am possible to reuse textbooks, improve learning outcomes plus reduce di cost of education for parents.

Di policy wey di Minister of Education Maruf Tunji and di Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaiba Sa'id togeda unveil on Friday, 9 January, na part of ongoing reforms to position Nigeria education sector and ease financial pressure on families.

Di Ministers explain say wit dis policy, pupils and students go fit reuse textbooks across multiple academic sessions, and e go enable siblings to fit share learning materials.

"Di policy compulsory standardized textbooks wey go last 4–6 years, ban disposable workbooks, enable reuse across sessions, allow sibling sharing, significantly lower recurring costs for parents, and reduce waste, thereby supporting environmental sustainability." one statement wey di tok-tok pesin for di ministry of education Boriowo Folashade issue tok.

Dis policy mean say younger siblings go fit use di textbooks wey dia elder ones use.

Although di ministers no tok wen di policy go take effect. However, according to di statement, di reason na to address di concerns on top frequent cosmetics textbook revisions and practices wey dey force parents to buy new books evri year without improved content.

One key provision of di policy na di introduction of structured and meaningful revision cycles.

Under di new framework, textbook revisions must show correct improvements in content rather dan minor changes in layout or change in pages, thereby extending di lifespan of approved textbooks and ensure beta value for di money.

Di ministers also say di policy go introduce limits on di number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, in line wit international best practices observed in countries like Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania.

"Structured revision cycles now go require substantive content improvements, while limits on di number of approved textbooks per subject and grade go align wit international best practice."

Di govment say dis measure go improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection for schools and education authorities.

Di statement add say di Nigeria govment don also introduce one uniform academic calendar to promote consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning nationwide.

Under dis new policy, di Nigeria govment don limit graduation ceremonies for only pupils and students wey dey complete Primary 6, JSS 3 and SSS 3, na only dem get permission to do graduation ceremony.

"We gatz between milestones and routine transitions. By limiting formal graduations to exit classes, we dey protect parents from di frequent, high-cost celebrations wey don bicom burden instead of thing of joy."

Di statement add say di Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) go continue to lead textbook quality assurance.

Di Federal Ministry of Education reaffirm dia commitment to education reform, equity, and access to high-quality instructional materials nationwide.

Dis policy na one of di few di ministry recently introduce.

Recently, di Nigeria ministry of education bin make changes to WAEC and Neco examination.

Also for November 2025, dem suspend one national policy wey make di use of native languages as di medium of instruction compulsory for schools.