The Federal Government has introduced a new Textbook Ranking System for school learning materials, directing publishers and other stakeholders to submit textbooks for fresh assessment and ranking under a revised quality assurance framework.
The initiative was announced by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), which said the exercise forms part of efforts to improve educational standards and ensure that only quality instructional materials are approved for use in schools across the country.
In a public notice issued by the Executive Secretary of NERDC, Prof. Salisu Shehu, the council unveiled the 2026 Phase 1 textbook assessment and ranking exercise. According to the notice, the newly introduced Textbook Ranking System will become a key component of the approval process for educational materials nationwide.
NERDC explained that the policy introduces new quality benchmarks and ranking requirements that will apply to all textbooks. As a result, publishers must resubmit books previously assessed and approved for the targeted class levels, as earlier approvals will not automatically qualify materials under the new framework.
The council stated that the assessment exercise will be conducted in three phases. Phase 1 will focus on textbooks and instructional resources for Primary 1, Primary 4, Junior Secondary School (JSS) 1, and Senior Secondary School (SSS) 1. Other class levels will be covered during subsequent phases.
According to NERDC, submissions for Phase 1 will begin on June 8, 2026, and close on June 19, 2026. The council warned that late submissions would not be accepted. “Assessment and ranking of books and other resources for the 2026 cycle shall be conducted in three phases,” the notice stated.
The council added that all textbooks and instructional resources intended for ranking must first pass through an enhanced assessment process based on newly approved quality standards.
Publishers, authors, printers, distributors, and other stakeholders in the book industry have been advised to study and comply with the revised Book Quality Guidelines and Submission Procedure available through NERDC. The council said adherence to the requirements would be necessary for successful participation in the assessment process.
NERDC further disclosed that the assessment and ranking of all submitted materials would be completed by July 31, 2026. The outcome will determine the list of approved and ranked educational resources for schools.
The introduction of the Textbook Ranking System is expected to increase competition among publishers while strengthening quality control across the education sector. Education stakeholders are also expected to monitor how the new framework influences textbook development, approval processes, and learning outcomes in schools nationwide.
With the completion date set for July 31, the council says the exercise represents a significant step toward improving the quality of educational resources available to Nigerian learners through a transparent and standards-driven evaluation process.
