Education: FG announces national standardized academic calendar, prohibits the sale of textbooks packaged together with workbooks

The federal government has introduced a comprehensive policy framework aimed at reducing the cost of education for parents while enhancing learning outcomes for students.

Announced jointly by Education Minister Tunji Alausa and his deputy, Suwaiba Ahmed, on Friday, the policy forms part of broader reforms designed to ease the financial burden on families and reposition the education sector.

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A key aspect of the framework is the promotion of reusable, high-quality textbooks that can last between four and six years, with a ban on disposable workbooks bundled with textbooks. This approach allows textbooks to be reused across academic sessions, shared among siblings, and lowers recurring education expenses while supporting environmental sustainability.

The policy also introduces a uniform academic calendar nationwide, streamlines graduation ceremonies for only certain classes (Primary Six, JSS 3, and SS 3), and strengthens assessment, quality assurance, and instructional material selection. It addresses issues such as frequent cosmetic textbook revisions and excessive annual costs for parents, requiring that revisions reflect substantive content improvements rather than minor layout changes.

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The ministers emphasized the government’s commitment to safeguarding educational standards, promoting equity, reducing parental costs, and ensuring nationwide access to quality instructional materials, while acknowledging contributions from agencies such as the Universal Basic Education Commission and the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council.

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