The Federal Ministry of Education has denied approving the “Living History”textbook, clarified that the book is not authorised for use in any Nigerian school, following a public discussions surrounding a History textbook titled “Living History,” claimed the exclusion of Igbo content and suggestions that the book has been approved for use in Nigerian schools.
The ministry n a statement issued on Tuesday (today) by the Director of Press and Public Relations of the ministry, Boriowo Folasade, stated that the Federal Government emphasised that “Living History” has never been submitted to the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) for review.
According to the ministry, NERDC is the statutory body responsible for reviewing, evaluating and approving instructional materials in line with the national curriculum. “As a result, the book was neither recommended by NERDC nor included on the official list of approved History textbooks,” the statement said.
The ministry disclosed that consultations with the leadership of NERDC and a review of officially endorsed instructional materials confirmed that “Living History” does not form part of the approved textbooks for use in schools across the country.
The ministry urged parents, teachers, school proprietors and administrators to disregard what it described as speculation, misinformation and “emotionally charged narratives” surrounding the book. It warned that the use of unapproved instructional materials could undermine curriculum standards and negatively affect teaching and learning outcomes.
All approved textbooks strictly comply with the national curriculum and reflect Nigeria’s rich cultural diversity, shared history and core national values, while promoting inclusivity, balance and unity,” the ministry stated. Folasade further called on members of the public to support responsible discourse, reject divisive misinformation and verify the approval status of educational materials through official channels before adopting them for classroom use.
“The public is encouraged to consult NERDC for verified information on approved textbooks. Education thrives on truth. Unity thrives on understanding,” the statement added.
