NERDC Launches National Textbook Audit to Improve Learning Standards

The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) has commenced a comprehensive review of Nigeria’s textbook evaluation system, mandating publishers and relevant stakeholders to present school textbooks for a new phase of assessment, re-evaluation, and ranking under a recently introduced quality assurance framework.

In a public notice signed by the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Salisu Shehu, the Council announced the commencement of the 2026 Phase 1 textbook evaluation and ranking exercise, describing it as part of broader efforts to improve educational quality and ensure that learners have access to credible and high-standard instructional materials.

The initiative introduces a ranking mechanism into the textbook approval process, a move expected to promote healthy competition among publishers and elevate the quality standards for teaching and learning resources used across schools in the country.

According to the notice, all textbooks, including those previously assessed and approved for the targeted class levels, must be resubmitted for evaluation due to the introduction of new standards, benchmarks, and ranking requirements.

NERDC stated that the assessment exercise will be conducted in three phases. It explained that Phase 1 will cover textbooks and instructional resources for Primary 1, Primary 4, Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1, and Senior Secondary School (SSS) 1, while subsequent phases will focus on other class levels.

The Council announced that submissions for Phase 1 will begin on June 8, 2026, and close on June 19, 2026, warning that late submissions will not be entertained.

“Assessment and ranking of books and other resources for the 2026 cycle shall be conducted in three phases,” the notice stated, adding that all materials intended for ranking must first pass through an enhanced assessment process based on newly approved quality benchmarks.

“Critical stakeholders, including publishers, authors, printers, distributors, and individuals in the book sector, are urged to take serious note of the guidelines and comply with the instructions and new requirements set out in the Book Quality Guidelines and Submission Procedure available on the NERDC website,” the statement reads.

The Council further stated that the evaluation and ranking of all submitted textbooks and instructional materials will be concluded by July 31, 2026, after which a list of approved and ranked learning resources will be made available for use in schools.