Nigeria sets 70% minimum benchmark for textbook quality

Nigeria's Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, has established a 70 percent minimum benchmark for textbooks to qualify for national ranking. This measure aims to eliminate substandard instructional materials from the education system.

Following the introduction of a revised national curriculum in September 2025, the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) utilized a standardized assessment toolkit based on international best practices. The assessment criteria include curriculum alignment, which accounts for 51 percent of the score, as well as language, instructional design, technical features, and social and cultural compliance.

The inaugural national textbook evaluation revealed significant quality disparities, with some materials scoring as low as 25 percent. The 70 percent threshold is intended to ensure quality while allowing publishers who fail to meet the standard an opportunity to correct deficiencies and resubmit their work. Additionally, the Federal Government plans to implement a systematic review of the national curriculum every three years.