FG INTRODUCES 70% QUALITY BENCHMARK FOR TEXTBOOKS SEEKING NATIONAL RANKING

The Federal Government has introduced a 70 per cent benchmark for textbooks seeking to qualify for inclusion in the national ranking system for educational materials. The new standard is aimed at improving the quality of textbooks used in schools and ensuring that learning materials meet acceptable academic and professional requirements before being recommended for use.

The policy is expected to strengthen the process through which textbooks are evaluated and approved for the education sector. Under the new benchmark, publishers and authors will have to meet the required quality threshold before their books can be considered for national ranking, a move the government believes will encourage greater attention to accuracy, relevance, presentation and curriculum alignment.

Education authorities have continued to express concerns over the quality of some learning materials available to Nigerian students, particularly textbooks that contain outdated information, factual errors or content that does not properly reflect the approved curriculum. The introduction of a clear minimum score is expected to provide a more consistent standard for assessing educational publications and reducing the circulation of substandard materials.

The benchmark will also place greater responsibility on publishers and authors to ensure that their textbooks undergo proper review before being presented for national consideration. Books will be assessed against established criteria, with those meeting or exceeding the 70 per cent requirement standing a better chance of securing recognition within the national ranking framework.

The Federal Government said the measure forms part of wider efforts to improve teaching and learning outcomes by ensuring that students and teachers have access to reliable and high-quality educational resources. The policy is expected to encourage publishers to improve the standard of their publications while helping schools, teachers and education stakeholders identify textbooks that meet nationally recognised quality requirements.