Publishers Fault Textbook Ranking Policy, Condemn 300% Hike in Assessment Fees
Esther Oluku
The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) yesterday criticised the implementation of the federal government’s proposed textbook ranking policy, expressing concerns over the transparency of the process and warning that the initiative could commercialise access to educational materials.
The association also decried a 300 per cent increase in textbook assessment fees by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), from N500 to N2,000 per page, alongside an additional charge of N1 million per subject for ranking. The publishers argued that the new fees, introduced as the preliminary assessment exercise, commenced on June 8, 2026, and could place a heavy financial burden on industry operators and ultimately affect the affordability of textbooks.
Speaking to journalists in Lagos, the NPA President, Mr. Lukman Dauda, explained that while the policy proposes to ensure that learners have access to accurate, relevant, and affordable educational materials, it inherently smacks of deceit and breeds commercialisation,on thereby weakening the standard it seeks to uphold.
