🇳🇬NigeriaWest Africa
Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council reduces textbook assessment fees, orders refunds for publishers
via Punch Nigeria2 min read
The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council NERDC has lowered the cost for textbook assessment and ranking, and mandated refunds for publishers who previously paid higher fees. This decision aims to alleviate financial burdens on stakeholders before the Federal Government's National Textbook Ranking System is implemented. The Executive Secretary of the Council, Prof. Salisu Shehu, announced the changes, stating that the assessment fee is now N1,500 per page, down from N2,000, and the ranking fee has been reduced from N1 million to N750,000 per textbook title. Publishers who paid the former N2,000 per page assessment fee will receive refunds for the excess amount, with the procedure to be announced soon. These revised charges are effective immediately. The fee reduction precedes the launch of the National Textbook Ranking System, an educational reform introduced by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, to enhance the quality of instructional materials in Nigerian schools. Starting September 2026, only textbooks assessed, approved, and ranked by NERDC will be permitted for classroom use. This policy seeks to combat substandard textbooks and ensure access to high-quality, curriculum-compliant learning materials. The National Textbook Ranking System is part of broader reforms by the Federal Ministry of Education under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which also includes nationwide learning assessments, revived e-libraries, and expanded digital learning infrastructure
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Punch Nigeria.
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