The Federal Government has unveiled a comprehensive education reform framework aimed at reducing the financial burden on parents while improving learning outcomes for students across the country.
The policy, jointly announced on Friday by the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suwaiba Ahmed, forms part of broader efforts to reposition Nigeria’s education sector for quality, equity and sustainability.
A major highlight of the reforms is the introduction of a national standardised academic calendar, which will apply uniformly to schools nationwide. The government said the measure is designed to improve coordination across states, ensure consistency in academic activities and minimise disruptions in the school system.
In a move expected to significantly reduce education costs, the Federal Government also prohibited the sale of textbooks bundled with disposable workbooks. Under the new policy, only durable, high-quality textbooks designed to last between four and six years will be approved for use in schools.
According to the ministers, the policy will allow textbooks to be reused across academic sessions and shared among siblings, thereby lowering recurring expenses for parents. It will also promote environmental sustainability by reducing paper waste associated with frequently discarded workbooks.
The framework further addresses the issue of frequent and unnecessary textbook revisions, which often force parents to purchase new books annually. Going forward, revisions will only be permitted where there are substantial improvements in content, rather than minor cosmetic changes such as layout or cover design.
As part of the reforms, the government also announced that graduation ceremonies will be streamlined and restricted to key exit classes—Primary Six, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS 3) and Senior Secondary School 3 (SS 3)—to curb excessive costs placed on parents.
The policy places emphasis on strengthening assessment processes, quality assurance mechanisms and the selection of instructional materials to ensure that teaching and learning meet national standards.
Dr Alausa and Prof Ahmed reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding educational quality, promoting equity and ensuring nationwide access to affordable, high-quality learning materials. They also acknowledged the contributions of key agencies, including the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), in developing and supporting the new framework.
The government expressed confidence that the reforms will ease financial pressure on families, improve learning experiences for students and set the foundation for a more efficient and sustainable education system in Nigeria.