The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Lagos State Chapter, on Wednesday urged the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to address frequent change of textbooks in primary schools.

Mr Adedoyin Adesina, the Chairman of the union, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that frequent change of textbooks was not good for the educational system.

He said most textbooks now came in two categories, a workbook and textbook.

Adesina said that textbooks were changed frequently and could not be transferred or shared among siblings of same family.

He said textbooks were now being packaged in a way that the pupils must do some class work on them compulsorily, thus making it very difficult to be shared.

“The textbooks used by the elder brother cannot be used by the younger siblings in another year.

“I remember those days when we were still young, when we were using Oxford textbooks.

“When you use it, your younger brother or sister coming behind you will inherit and it will save the parents a lot of money,” he said.

Adesina said the situation was not helping matters, as many families could not afford to buy textbooks every year.

“Today, the situation is no longer the same, siblings can no longer share or transfer books to one another

“It is a big problem to the educational system when we keep changing books every year and at will for no reason.

“The situation that a book used by a member of a family cannot be used again is not helping maters,” he said.

Adesina urged the government to address policy somersault in the educational sector, as subjects were being introduced and changed frequently. (NAN)

– Oct. 31, 2018 @ 15:59 GMT |