The Gombe State Government has banned the compulsory yearly purchase of non-reusable textbooks and customised notebooks in private schools across the state.
The development was disclosed on Friday in a statement issued by the Director Quality Assurance of the state Ministry of Education, Saidu Dauda Gadam.
According to the statement, the practice of producing textbooks with built-in worksheets or answer spaces, which prevents their re-use by subsequent learners, imposes unnecessary financial hardship on parents and leads to avoidable waste.
SPONSOR AD
The statement added that all schools in the state are directed to, starting September 15 2026, provide separate optional workbooks or exercise books for individualised exercises, while the main textbooks shall remain re-usable in line with the new Nigerian Educational Research Development Council (NERDC) curriculum.
It noted that the ministry has observed that some private schools mandate purchase of learning materials in school by students, pupils’ parents or guardians.
“While any school that wishes to do so, such a request will be made open for the parents and guardians to buy either at the school or at the market. Such materials include; textbooks, uniforms, writing materials among others.”
The director also disclosed that the state Commissioner for Education, Dr Aishatu Umar Maigari, has outlawed sign-out ceremonies in both public and private schools, stating that such ceremonies shall be limited strictly for students on completion of primary six, JSS III and SSS III.
“Also, sign-out culture where a growing trend of unruly and unsafe conduct by students during marker day celebration are exhibited in both public and private schools which has become a source of concern to the government, henceforth such practices remain banned in all schools,” part of the statement read.
Gadam further stated that the ministry has also temporarily suspended registration and establishment of new private, community and faith-based schools in the state, “while all existing schools that are yet to complete their registration, provisional approval process and the collection of final certificates are hereby advised to do so on or before October 31, 2025.
The statement advised that all academic activities of private schools must align with government policies, especially using new curriculum, skills development, anti-bullying policies.
“Also, all private senior secondary schools that do not have external examination centres such as WAEC, NECO, NABTEB, NBAIS, etc should report to the ministry for proper guidance, as the ministry remains committed to ensuring quality education through accessible and affordable means in the state.”
