The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has expressed reservations over the Federal Ministry of Education’s plan to introduce a classroom textbook ranking system for basic and secondary schools.
Specifically, it described the proposal as a fundamental policy overreach with far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s education sector.
The Ministry had announced that the policy, expected to take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, would be implemented by a committee constituted outside the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the statutory body established to develop curricula and oversee instructional materials nationwide.
Reacting to the development, Executive Secretary of the association, Rotimi Iyiola, said the initiative, though presented as a reform aimed at improving learning outcomes and standardising textbook selection, risks undermining established educational structures.
The association argued that textbooks are not creative works subject to competitive ranking, but structured academic outputs developed strictly in line with approved national curricula.
“The idea that textbooks can be ranked like awards in the creative arts sector is fundamentally flawed. Textbooks are the product of a regulated scientific and academic process anchored on the curriculum developed by the NERDC.”
The association further stressed that once textbooks are produced, they undergo a formal vetting process by the NERDC to ensure compliance with curriculum standards before approval for use in schools, adding that introducing an external ranking system would weaken this established regulatory framework.
The NPA also questioned the rationale for establishing an additional committee to reassess textbooks that have already been vetted and approved by the NERDC, describing the move as suggestive of a lack of confidence in the council’s statutory mandate.
“It raises serious questions when a body created by an Act of Parliament, and entrusted with curriculum development and quality assurance, has its processes effectively bypassed. This appears to be a vote of no confidence in an institution that has served Nigeria’s education system for decades.”
According to the group, the policy contradicts globally accepted standards for textbook evaluation and risks destabilising a system that has remained functional over the years. It warned that introducing such a ranking mechanism could amount to “reinventing the wheel in a way that damages a working structure.”
Beyond institutional concerns, the association raised constitutional issues, noting that education falls under the Concurrent Legislative List in the 1999 Constitution, allowing both federal and state governments to play roles in educational administration.
By centralising textbook ranking at the federal level, the NPA argued that the ministry risks encroaching on state authority over instructional materials within their jurisdictions.
“The federal ministry’s role is expected to be coordinative and advisory, not directive or monopolistic. This approach shifts the balance of federalism from cooperation to control,” the group noted.
The publishers also raised concerns over transparency in the proposed system, questioning the criteria for evaluating textbooks and the process for selecting committee members. It noted that key operational details of the ranking exercise had not been made public.
“Who appoints the committee? What safeguards exist against bias or undue influence? Why is a process affecting a national industry shielded from stakeholder scrutiny?” the association queried.
It added that transparency must be demonstrated through clear standards, inclusive participation, and verifiable procedures, warning that closed systems, regardless of intent, undermine public trust.
The NPA further criticised the exclusion of key stakeholders, particularly publishers, from the policy formulation process. It described the publishing sector as central to the education value chain, comprising authors, editors, printers, distributors, and investors whose roles are critical to content production and delivery.
Excluding such stakeholders, it said, raises serious concerns about fairness and inclusivity in policymaking.
On the economic front, the association warned that the policy could have significant consequences for Nigeria’s book industry, which operates as a complex value chain supporting thousands of jobs a