September 15, (THEWILL) — Each academic session, parents are compelled to buy new sets of textbooks for their children, even when the differences between the new editions and the old ones are negligible.
This practice has placed an enormous financial strain on families, especially low- and middle-income households. A single textbook can cost between ₦5,000 and ₦15,000, and when multiplied across several subjects, the costs quickly become overwhelming.
In many cases, parents are forced to choose between meeting basic needs and providing essential learning materials for their children.
While schools may justify these frequent changes as efforts to align with new standards or improve curricula, the reality is that the practice does not always result in better educational outcomes. Instead, it undermines sustainability, wastes resources, and raises questions of transparency.
Too often, old but usable editions are discarded, and in some cases, the changes appear to be driven more by profit motives than genuine academic necessity.
Fortunately, other states have taken bold steps to address this challenge, and Oyo can learn from them. Imo State, for example, has outlawed annual textbook replacements, mandating their use for at least four years in both public and private schools.
Edo State enforces a minimum four-year cycle, while Ogun State goes further by mandating a six-year usage period with penalties for schools that fail to comply.
Enugu State approves textbooks for three years before review, and Benue State has abolished customized, non-transferable books to encourage handovers from seniors to juniors.
These policies have reduced parental burdens, improved resource efficiency, and enhanced learning consistency.
Oyo State should not lag behind. To tackle this issue effectively, I propose the following measures:
Standardize Textbook Usage: Enforce a policy requiring textbooks to be used for at least 3–5 years unless major curriculum changes justify new editions.
Strengthen Oversight: Empower the Ministry of Education to monitor compliance and check cases where changes appear commercially motivated.
Promote Reuse and Affordability: Encourage recycling programs, textbook sharing, and provide subsidies or free books for indigent students.
Engage Stakeholders: Involve parents, teachers, and education experts in reviewing textbook policies to ensure they genuinely serve student interests.
By taking these steps, the Oyo State Government can ease the financial burden on families, ensure equitable access to education, and foster a more sustainable learning environment, just as several other states have successfully done.
I urge policymakers to act without delay to regulate textbook changes and protect the interests of both students and parents.
Thank you for the opportunity to raise this critical issue. I hope this sparks meaningful discussions and decisive action.
*** written by Alhazan Abiodun Rilwan
Deputy Director, Information Archives,
Oyo State Ministry of Information, Ibadan.
