The National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS) has appealed to the Federal Government to reintroduce bulk purchasing and subsidized distribution of textbooks for both public and private school pupils, describing it as a sustainable solution to the surging cost of education.

Speaking on the issue, the association’s National President, Chief Yomi Otubela, warned that inflation, high printing expenses, piracy, and the role of middlemen have combined to make textbooks unaffordable for many families.

According to him:

“Without urgent government intervention, the burden on parents and schools will continue to grow, while publishers risk collapse under mounting debts.”

Otubela explained that while public schools sometimes benefit from government-funded bulk book purchases, private schools are excluded and must source directly from publishers at market rates. He also lamented that piracy has worsened the challenge, depriving authors and publishers of fair returns, while lengthy court processes fail to provide timely redress.

He urged government action, saying:

“Government should consider bulk purchasing from publishers and redistributing to both state and private school learners, either free of charge or at heavily subsidized rates. By doing so, parents will breathe easier, publishers will remain in business, schools will deliver better, and Nigeria will raise a better-educated generation to drive national development.”

While commending state-level initiatives in Ogun and Imo promoting reusable textbooks, Otubela highlighted their limitations, particularly at nursery and primary levels, where pupils write directly into their books, making reuse unworkable.

On digital textbooks, he acknowledged their potential but flagged cost barriers: the need for devices, internet safety measures, and parental supervision make them an expensive alternative.

The NAPPS president further appealed for the revival of local paper mills, stressing that dependence on imported paper had significantly inflated production costs.

He concluded by reminding the government of its duty, stating that since education is a fundamental right, “the least the government can do, amid its inability to fully fund schools, is to support families with essential learning materials like textbooks.