The Federal Government has reintroduced a reusable textbooks policy aimed at lowering the cost of education for parents, improving learning outcomes and promoting sustainability in schools.

The policy framework, unveiled by the Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, and the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaba Sai’d, is part of ongoing reforms to reposition the education sector and ease the financial burden on families.

In a statement issued on Friday by the Ministry of Education’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the ministers said the policy prioritises standardised, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years.

They added that the policy expressly prohibits the bundling of disposable workbooks with textbooks, a practice that often compels parents to buy new books annually.

“This approach ensures that learning materials can be reused across multiple academic sessions,” the ministers said.

According to them, the initiative will allow siblings to share textbooks, significantly reduce recurring education costs and cut down waste in the school system, in line with environmental sustainability goals.

The Federal Government has also introduced a uniform academic calendar to enhance consistency in teaching, learning and school planning nationwide.

In addition, graduation ceremonies have been streamlined to curb unnecessary financial pressure on parents.

“Under the new guidelines, only pupils and students completing Primary Six, Junior Secondary School Three (JSS3) and Senior Secondary School Three (SSS3) are permitted to hold graduation ceremonies,” the statement said.

The ministers explained that the policy strengthens assessment, quality assurance, selection and use of textbooks and other instructional materials across the country.

They said the reforms address long-standing concerns over frequent but cosmetic textbook revisions, weak quality standards and practices that force parents to purchase new textbooks yearly without meaningful improvements in content.

A key feature of the policy, they noted, is the introduction of structured and meaningful revision cycles, ensuring that any review of textbooks reflects substantial content improvements rather than minor design changes.

The policy also places limits on the number of approved textbooks per subject and grade level, in line with international best practices observed in countries such as Japan, Kenya and Tanzania.

“This is expected to improve quality, reduce market saturation and simplify textbook selection for schools and education authorities,” the ministers said.

They added that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to play a central role in the assessment and quality assurance of instructional materials, working with relevant agencies to ensure that only high-quality, curriculum-aligned textbooks are approved for use nationwide.

The Federal Ministry of Education reaffirmed its commitment to education reform and commended the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), NERDC and other partners for their contributions to the new policy framework.

According to the statement, the reforms underscore the Federal Government’s resolve to safeguard educational standards, promote equity, reduce costs for parents and ensure learners across Nigeria have access to quality instructional materials that support effective teaching and learning.