Oyo State House of Assembly has ordered the state Ministry of Education not to review its schools’ curriculum outside the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) directive.

Speaking at the Assembly’s plenary session in Ibadan on Thursday, when Mrs Kemi Makanjuola and Mr Adeyinka Osuntokun, both Permanent Secretary from the Ministry of Education and State Universal Basic Education Board appeared before the Assembly, the Speaker,  Hon. Michael Adeyemo directed ‎the ministry  to streamline the books used by private schools in the state.

``There should be proper monitoring and enforcement of books as recommended by NERDC. We do not want repetition of what has been raise in this Assembly when the new academic session begins in the state,” he said.

The Assembly had summoned the education ministry officials in the state to appear before it to defend the incessant review of text books in public and private schools in the state.

Makanjuola, in her defence, said that the ministry was saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that recommended books for use in public and private schools are in line with NERDC’s content.

``Book review activities are conducted once in six years for nursery and primary schools in line with the six years basic academic activity of pupils in primary schools.

``The junior and senior secondary schools have theirs reviewed in three years because their academic activities terminate after three years. Books evaluated to meet the requirements as contained in the curriculum will be enlisted in the state's approved list.‎

“Only English and Yoruba Literature books are changed every ‎three years. Supplementary book review comes up between one major exercise and another if there is need for it," she said

But, Hon Segun Ajanaku (APC) from Ibadan South-West constituency II, who had earlier moved the motion on the matter noted described the ministry's defence as commendable theoretically.

``I do not think schools in this state are complying with the NERDC policy for book review but different schools are just using any text books they like. I will want the ministry to enforce the stipulated book usage for the different classes and penalise any school that flaunts the directives,’’ he said

Similarly, Hon Joshua Oyebamiji (Accord), from Akinyele I constituency, stressed that the supplementary ‎ review of books by the ministry was to favour some hungry book publishers.

Also, Hon Gbenga Oyekola (LP), from Atiba constituency suggested that the ministry should put in place a monitoring team that will supervise usage of books in schools within the state.

Oyekola added that the ministry should also give equal opportunity to book publishers, while ensuring that such did not become a competition between them.

Responding, Makanjuola promised to comply with the directives and observation raised by the members of the House, adding that Inspectors of Education at both local and zonal would ensure proper enforcement of the books in schools within their territories.