Parents Hail FG’s Move On Reusable Textbook, Urge Strict Implementation

Parents are welcoming the Federal Government’s initiative to reintroduce reusable textbooks to reduce education costs for parents.

This approach, according to the Federal Government, is intended to ensure that learning materials can be reused across multiple academic sessions.

The initiative allows siblings to share textbooks, significantly lowers recurring education costs for parents, and reduces waste within the school system, thereby supporting environmental sustainability.

Some parents who spoke with THE WHISTLER welcomed the policy but urged for strict implementation.

“We have had many policies that have not been implemented. This is a good development. I just hope that the government will implement it and it won’t be like others,” Mrs. Mariam Daniel, a public servant, stated.

Another parent, Mr. Christian Ugwu, also commended the government, saying his home has been filled with textbooks used by his children in the past.

He noted that since many school managements introduced textbooks for students to write homework in, it has created a burden for parents who have to spend money on new textbooks every session.

“When I was in school, I used my siblings’ textbooks, but my children can’t use theirs. It’s really a big challenge. This new policy is really commendable,” he said.

A teacher in a private school in Abuja, Lilian Iweleka, expressed hope that the policy will also be extended to private schools where she said extortion is rampant.

“As a teacher and parent, I know what’s going on in private schools. Parents are being extorted through textbook prices. I’m happy about this. I want the government to ensure private schools comply,” she said.

The government noted that the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) will continue to play a central role in assessing and ensuring the quality of instructional materials, working closely with relevant education agencies to ensure only high-quality, curriculum-aligned textbooks are approved for use in schools nationwide.

THE WHISTLER contacted NESREA’s spokesperson, Tochukwu Eze, about the policy’s implementation, and he explained, “The Minister just announced the new policy; the next step will be announcing implementation guidelines. Government policies apply to both public and private schools.”