The Federal Ministry of Education has dismissed claims that a history textbook titled “Living History” has been approved for use in schools across Nigeria.
The ministry stated that the book was neither approved nor recommended by the Federal Ministry of Education for instructional use.
This clarification was contained in a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Folasade Boriowo.
Boriowo explained that the textbook was never submitted to the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) for assessment and evaluation in line with the national curriculum.
According to her, the book is therefore not endorsed by NERDC and does not feature on the official list of approved history textbooks.
She added that consultations with the leadership of NERDC confirmed that the publication was not among instructional materials approved for nationwide use.
The ministry advised parents, teachers, school owners and members of the public to disregard the misinformation and avoid the use of the book in schools.
She cautioned that deploying unapproved instructional materials could compromise curriculum standards and adversely affect the quality of teaching and learning outcomes.
Boriowo further noted that all approved textbooks are designed to align with the national curriculum and reflect Nigeria’s cultural diversity, shared history and core national values.
The director also urged for responsible public engagement, advising stakeholders to always verify the approval status of textbooks through official channels, including NERDC.
