By Zainab Suleiman Okino
Education policies have far-reaching consequences, shaping not only what students learn but also the industries and professionals that support learning. It is therefore imperative that any major reform in the education sector is preceded by broad stakeholder consultation and consensus, transparency, and careful assessment of its likely impact. This does not seem to be the case with the proposed textbook ranking policy initiative.
The proposed ranking policy departs from this widely accepted approach and risks creating market distortions, reducing textbook diversity, limiting professional choice, and concentrating educational content in the hands of a few providers. Nigeria’s educational policies should align with global best practices that promote quality assurance while safeguarding competition, accessibility, innovation, and academic freedom.
Policy inconsistency remains the bane of education in Nigeria, with every political administration or minister introducing new ideas that are, at best, good on paper. The Minister of Education is also pursuing another controversial reform by replacing the 6-3-3-4 administrative structure with a 6-6-4 arrangement, ostensibly to reduce the number of out-of-school children. No policy is 100 per cent foolproof or perfect. What matters is building consensus, ensuring sustainability, implementing reforms faithfully, and keeping education affordable and accessible for all. Legislative oversight is needed to bring all stakeholders to the table for honest conversations about the future of Nigeria’s educational policies.
Zainab Suleiman Okino (FNGE) chairs the Blueprint Editorial Board. She is a syndicated columnist and can be reached via: [email protected]