The Federal Government has announced a new education policy barring graduation ceremonies for pupils in pre-primary classes, Primary 6, Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3), and Senior Secondary School 3 (SSS3), as part of measures to reduce the financial burden on parents and guardians.
The policy was unveiled on Friday by the Minister of Education, Maruf Tunji Alausa, alongside the Minister of State for Education, Prof. Suwaba Sa’id. It forms part of ongoing reforms aimed at improving learning outcomes, strengthening quality assurance, and promoting sustainability in Nigeria’s education sector.
According to the ministers, the new framework places strong emphasis on the use of standardised, durable textbooks designed to last between four and six years. Schools have also been expressly barred from bundling disposable workbooks with textbooks, a practice the government says has contributed significantly to rising education costs.
They explained that reusable textbooks would allow materials to be shared among siblings and reused across multiple academic sessions, thereby reducing recurring expenses for parents while minimising waste in the school system.
As part of the reforms, the Federal Government has introduced a uniform academic calendar to ensure consistency in teaching, learning, and school planning nationwide.
On graduation ceremonies, the ministers clarified that the exercise has been streamlined strictly to ease financial pressure on families. Under the new guidelines, graduation ceremonies are no longer permitted at transitional levels, with only terminal classes allowed to mark completion in line with approved standards.
The policy also strengthens the assessment and approval process for textbooks and instructional materials. The government noted that frequent but superficial textbook revisions, which often force parents to buy new books yearly without meaningful content improvements, will no longer be allowed.
Under the new rules, textbook revisions must demonstrate substantial improvements in content rather than minor design changes, ensuring better value for money and longer usability.
In addition, limits have been placed on the number of approved textbooks per subject and class, in line with international best practices. This, the ministers said, will improve quality, reduce market saturation, and simplify selection processes for schools.
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to oversee the evaluation and approval of instructional materials to ensure alignment with the national curriculum.
Reaffirming its commitment to education reform, the Federal Government said the policy is aimed at safeguarding educational standards, promoting equity, reducing costs for parents, and ensuring that learners across the country have access to high-quality learning materials.
