FG Bars Graduation Ceremony for Pre-Pry 6, JSS3, SS3 Students, Orders Reuse of Textbooks
- The federal government introduced a new education policy aimed at cutting costs for parents and improving learning outcomes
- The framework prioritised reusable, durable textbooks and streamlined graduation ceremonies to ease financial pressure on families
- Officials said the reforms would strengthen quality assurance, reduce waste, and align Nigeria’s education system with international best practices
The federal government, on Friday, January 9, announced a new education policy framework designed to ease financial pressure on parents, improve learning outcomes, and promote sustainability in schools.
The initiative centred on the adoption of reusable, high-quality textbooks was jointly unveiled by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof Suiwaba Sai’d.
Source: Twitter
According to the ministers, the policy prioritised the use of standardised, durable textbooks expected to last between four and six years. They stressed that schools were expressly prohibited from bundling disposable workbooks with textbooks.
“This approach is intended to ensure that learning materials can be reused across multiple academic sessions,” they said.
According to Dailytrust, the measure, they added, would allow siblings to share textbooks, significantly reduce recurring education costs for parents, and cut down waste within the school system.
Uniform academic calendar introduced
As part of wider reforms, the Federal Government also introduced a uniform academic calendar to promote consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning nationwide. The ministers explained that graduation ceremonies had been streamlined to ease financial pressure on families.
Under the new guidelines, only pupils and students completing Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3) would be permitted to hold graduation ceremonies.
Textbook quality and revision cycles
The ministers emphasised that the policy strengthened the assessment, quality assurance, selection, and use of textbooks and instructional materials across Nigeria.
They noted that the reforms responded to longstanding concerns over frequent but cosmetic textbook revisions that compelled parents to purchase new books annually without meaningful improvements in content.
A key provision of the framework introduced structured and meaningful revision cycles.
“Under the new framework, textbook revisions must reflect substantive improvements in content rather than minor changes in layout or pagination, thereby extending the lifespan of approved textbooks and ensuring better value for money,” the ministers explained.
The policy also introduced limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level. This measure, aligned with international best practices observed in countries such as Japan, Kenya, and Tanzania, was expected to improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify textbook selection processes for schools and education authorities.
Source: Twitter
Role of NERDC and partners
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) was reaffirmed as central to assessing and assuring the quality of instructional materials. The council would continue to work with relevant agencies to ensure that only curriculum-aligned textbooks were approved for use in schools.
Commending the Universal Basic Education Commission, NERDC, and other technical partners for their contributions, the ministers reiterated the government’s commitment to education renewal.
“The Federal Government remains resolved to safeguard educational standards, promote equity, reduce costs for parents, and ensure that learners across Nigeria have access to high-quality instructional materials that support effective teaching and learning outcomes,” they said.
FG bans admission, transfer into SS3
Legit.ng earlier earlier reported that the Federal Government announced a nationwide ban on the admission and transfer of students into Senior Secondary School Three (SS3) in both public and private secondary schools across Nigeria. The directive was contained in a press release dated December 14, 2025, and signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade.
The Federal Ministry of Education stated that the decision was taken following “growing concerns over the increasing incidence of examination malpractice, including the use of so-called special centres during external examinations.”
Proofreading by Funmilayo Aremu, copy editor at Legit.ng.
Source: Legit.ng
