As schools reopen this September, parents in Imo, Benue, Anambra, and Ondo states have gained relief from the financial burden of repeatedly buying new textbooks.
The four states have banned non-reusable schoolbooks, restoring the long-standing tradition of passing books from one child to another.
Benue pioneered the policy three weeks ago, with Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Education and Knowledge Management, Helen Nambativ, stressing that the move will ease household expenses and redirect focus to learning.
Anambra followed with a ban and capacity-building workshops for private school operators, while Imo and Ondo also adopted similar measures ahead of the 2025/2026 academic session. The policy addresses years of exploitation where publishers and schools forced parents to purchase new editions annually.
Practices such as embedding workbooks into textbooks, frequent publisher changes, and restrictions on buying from independent vendors have worsened the strain, sometimes pushing families to the brink of withdrawing children from school.
Critics argue that many of these books are not even approved by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), resulting in a lack of uniformity and quality in the system. Advocates also insist that the Council must enforce standards, while publishers should focus on digital platforms, innovative content, and tech-driven learning tools rather than profiteering from mandatory new purchases.
Parents recall when textbooks were wrapped and preserved for siblings in the 1980s and 1990s, a practice that enabled responsibility and continuity. The current ban revives that joy while safeguarding families from unsustainable costs from schools.
