The Nigerian Publishers Association (NPA) has said the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council’s (NERDC) reduction of textbook assessment and ranking fees does not address the fundamental concerns surrounding the controversial book ranking policy.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by its Executive Secretary, Rotimi Iyiola, the association said although the fee reduction acknowledged stakeholders’ concerns, it only addressed a fraction of the issues raised.
The publishers commended the Federal Ministry of Education for engaging with the association and clarifying that the textbook ranking policy would apply only to government book procurement and public schools, leaving private schools free to choose the textbooks they use.
However, the association maintained that its opposition was never limited to the assessment fees but also to the broader implications of the proposed book ranking policy.
According to the NPA, the policy would impose additional financial burdens on publishers, increase the cost of textbooks for parents, and negatively affect Nigeria’s education sector.
