FG Absorbs 3,252 PTA Teachers Into Federal Unity Colleges

The Federal Government has approved the recruitment of 3,252 verified Parent-Teacher Association (PTA) teachers into the Federal Civil Service, ending years of uncertainty for thousands of educators who have kept classrooms running in Federal Unity Colleges across the country.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa announced the development on Thursday, describing President Bola Tinubu’s approval as a landmark intervention to address teacher shortages while rewarding the dedication of PTA teachers, many of whom have served for almost 25 years.

Alausa explained that the recruitment followed a comprehensive verification exercise conducted by an inter-ministerial committee, which cleared 3,252 teachers across the cadres of Education Officers, Assistant Education Officers and Technical Instructors for regularisation, subject to the completion of statutory procedures.

He said: “This is a President who cares deeply for Nigeria and for the future of our country. The President has approved the recruitment of teachers. Priority will be given to absorbing verified PTA teachers, many of whom have served in our Federal Unity Colleges and Federal Technical Colleges for almost 25 years. This approval provides them with the opportunity to become part of the mainstream public service.”

The Minister said the recruitment would significantly improve the teacher-student ratio in Federal Unity Colleges, preserve experienced manpower and strengthen classroom instruction.

He described the move as part of the Tinubu administration’s broader education reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda, stressing that investing in teachers remains central to improving learning outcomes.

Alausa assured the affected teachers that the Ministry would conclude all outstanding statutory processes transparently and in line with public service regulations.

“This administration is determined to ensure that every child in our Federal Unity Colleges is taught by qualified, motivated and professionally supported teachers.”

The minister also unveiled a series of major education reforms, including the National Textbook Ranking System, which from September 2026 will require public schools nationwide to use only nationally ranked and government-approved textbooks.

Under the policy, textbooks licensed by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) must undergo an additional national evaluation, score at least 70 per cent and meet prescribed academic and quality assurance standards before being approved for classroom use.

Alausa said the new system establishes, for the first time, a transparent, merit based and quality driven national framework that aligns Nigeria’s textbook approval process with international best practices while guaranteeing every learner access to credible, curriculum aligned and high quality learning resources.

The Minister stated that the National Textbook Ranking System will strengthen curriculum implementation, improve learning outcomes, promote equity in access to quality instructional materials, eliminate the proliferation of substandard textbooks and restore public confidence in the nation’s education system.

According to Dr. Alausa, the Ministry has constituted a National Textbook Ranking and Selection Committee comprising representatives of relevant education agencies and qualified experts. Working closely with the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), the Committee will assess only textbooks that have successfully met NERDC licensing requirements before recommending the highest ranked titles for the approval of the Honourable Minister of Education.

The Minister explained that, under the new policy, NERDC licensing alone will no longer qualify a textbook for classroom use. Every licensed textbook must undergo a rigorous national evaluation and ranking process, attain a minimum score of 70 per cent and satisfy prescribed academic, pedagogical, technical and quality assurance standards before it can be approved.

He added that only the best performing textbooks will be adopted, with approved titles for each subject limited to between six and ten, depending on curriculum requirements.

Dr. Alausa further announced that, in a major relief for publishers and authors, NERDC has approved a reduction in assessment and ranking fees. The assessment fee has been reduced from ₦2,000 to ₦1,500 per page, while the ranking fee has been reviewed downward from ₦1 million to ₦750,000 per title. Publishers who previously paid the former rates will receive refunds of the excess payments, with reimbursement arrangements to be communicated by the Council.

The Minister stated that beginning in September 2026, only textbooks evaluated, ranked and approved under the National Textbook Ranking System will be authorised for use in public schools nationwide. Approved textbooks will remain valid for a minimum period of three years to ensure stability and consistency in curriculum delivery.

The implementation of the policy will be closely monitored through NERDC and other relevant regulatory agencies. Schools, publishers and other stakeholders are expected to comply fully, while the use of unapproved textbooks will attract sanctions, including the blacklisting of defaulting authors, publishers and schools.

The Ministry reaffirmed the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to providing every Nigerian learner with world class instructional materials that promote excellence in teaching and learning, improve educational outcomes and strengthen the nation’s education system.