The contentious “Living History” textbook, which has apparently come under fire for allegedly excluding Igbo content, has been denied approval by the Federal Ministry of Education.
The ministry made it clear that no Nigerian school is permitted to use the book.
According to reports, the Federal Government emphasized in a statement released on Tuesday (today) by the ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, that “Living History” has never been submitted to the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) for review.
The ministry claims that NERDC is the statutory agency in charge of examining, assessing, and approving educational materials that adhere to the national curriculum.
According to the statement, “the book was neither recommended by NERDC nor included on the official list of approved History textbooks.”
The ministry revealed that discussions with the NERDC leadership and an examination of officially recognized teaching resources verified that “Living History” is not included in the authorized textbooks for use in classrooms nationwide.
Parents, educators, school owners, and administrators were asked by the ministry to ignore rumors, false information, and “emotionally charged narratives” around the book.
It issued a warning that using prohibited teaching resources could compromise curriculum standards and have a detrimental impact on teaching and learning results.
According to the ministry, “all authorized textbooks promote inclusivity, balance, and unity while rigorously adhering to the national curriculum and reflecting Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, shared history, and core national values.”
Folasade also urged the public to reject divisive falsehoods, encourage responsible conversation, and confirm educational materials’ approved status through proper channels before using them in the classroom.
For confirmed information about authorized textbooks, the public is urged to approach NERDC. Truth is the foundation of education. Understanding is the foundation of unity, the statement continued.
