Kogi State Lifts Compulsory Customized Textbooks in Schools to Ease Parental Burden

The policy, announced last week, allows schools to continue using such materials but only at prevailing market prices, with no obligation for parents to purchase them directly from educational institutions.

The decision was revealed by Kogi State Commissioner for Education, Hon. Wemi Jones, during a critical stakeholders’ meeting in Lokoja on September 3, 2025, attended by representatives from the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Association of National Contractors of Private Schools (ANCOPSS), State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), and National Association of Principals of Technical and Vocational Schools (NAPTAN).  

Jones emphasized that the era of restricting textbooks to single-use by senior students—preventing handover to juniors—is over, aiming to restore the “old glory” of education through reusability and integration of Information and Communication Technology (ICT).  

“Customized textbooks and notebooks are not entirely banned, but they must be sold at market prices without compulsion,” Jones clarified, addressing concerns over exploitative pricing by some schools.  

He further prohibited the conversion of textbooks into workbooks, mandating parents to provide separate notebooks for classwork and assignments to ensure textbooks remain intact for reuse by siblings.  

This reform is part of broader efforts under Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s administration to enforce the 2020 Kogi State Education Law, which has faced implementation challenges until now.  

The policy extends to other measures, including a ban on incessant graduation ceremonies in nursery, primary, and secondary schools—except for post-SSS 3 events if deemed necessary—to curb associated social vices and financial strains on families.  

Private school owners were urged to moderate fees while maintaining quality, with mandatory state mock exams now required as a prerequisite for West African Examinations Council (WAEC) registration.