The Federal Government has reduced the fees for textbook assessment and ranking ahead of the September 2026 implementation of the National Textbook Ranking System.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) announced the reduction on Wednesday, saying the decision is intended to ease the financial burden on publishers and authors while encouraging broader participation in the new textbook evaluation process.
In a statement signed by its Executive Secretary, Prof. Salisu Shehu, NERDC said the assessment fee has been reduced by 25 per cent, from N2,000 to N1,500 per page.
The Council also slashed the ranking fee from N1 million to N750,000 per textbook title.
It directed publishers and authors seeking assessment and ranking of their textbooks to begin making payments based on the revised rates with immediate effect.
NERDC further disclosed that publishers who had already paid the previous assessment fee of N2,000 per page would receive refunds for the excess amount.
The Council said details of the refund process would be communicated in due course.
“The revised fees take immediate effect, and all stakeholders in the book industry are expected to comply accordingly,” the statement read.
The reduction comes as the Federal Government steps up preparations for the rollout of the National Textbook Ranking System, a major education reform introduced by the Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa.
The policy, scheduled to take effect in September 2026, requires that only textbooks assessed, approved and nationally ranked by NERDC will be authorised for use in schools across the country.
Books that fail to secure a national ranking will no longer be approved for classroom use.
According to education authorities, the initiative is aimed at eliminating substandard and duplicated textbooks while ensuring that learners and teachers have access to quality instructional materials that comply with the national curriculum.
NERDC explained that while it will continue to carry out its statutory responsibility of approving textbooks, approval alone will no longer qualify a book for classroom use under the new system.
Instead, every approved textbook will undergo a comprehensive national evaluation by expert panels.
The assessment will consider factors such as content quality, curriculum alignment, pedagogical value, accuracy and overall suitability before a national ranking is assigned.
The Council said the ranking system is expected to provide schools, teachers, parents and education administrators with a reliable guide for selecting suitable textbooks across different subjects and educational levels.
It added that the reduction in assessment and ranking fees is part of efforts to ensure a seamless transition to the new nationwide textbook quality assurance framework while encouraging greater participation by publishers and authors.
Titilope Adako is a talented and intrepid journalist, dedicated to shedding light on the untold stories of Osun State and Nigeria. Through incisive reporting, she tackles a broad spectrum of topics, from politics and social justice to culture and entertainment, with a commitment to accuracy, empathy, and inspiring positive change.
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