NaCCA Orders Schools To Reject Unapproved Learning Materials

Ghana's curriculum regulator has reminded schools, publishers and book dealers that learning materials for pre-tertiary classrooms must not enter the system unless they have first been assessed and approved by the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment.

The directive, issued by NaCCA in a public notice on Monday, July 6, places fresh attention on the materials being published, marketed, stocked, distributed and used across basic and senior high schools. The Council said it remains the sole statutory body mandated to assess, approve and recommend learning materials for Ghana's pre-tertiary education sector under the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023).

The notice targets publishers, booksellers, schools, retailers, parents and the wider public. NaCCA's position is simple: a textbook, workbook or any other learning resource intended for classroom use must go through the official approval process before it is introduced to learners.

NaCCA says approval must come before distribution

According to the Council, the approval requirement is not optional and does not apply only after a material has gained popularity in the market. It must happen before publication, marketing, distribution or use in any educational institution.

That clarification matters because teaching and learning materials shape how pupils understand the national curriculum. If unapproved books circulate freely, schools risk relying on resources that may be inaccurate, misaligned with the curriculum or presented as officially sanctioned when they are not.

NaCCA says all learning materials intended for use in pre-tertiary schools must be assessed and approved before they are published, marketed, distributed or used.

The Council also pointed stakeholders to its official NaCCA Approval QR Code. Every approved learning material, it said, carries the code so users can confirm whether the material has genuinely passed through the regulator's process.

NaCCA urged schools, parents, retailers, booksellers and publishers to verify the QR code before buying, stocking, publishing or distributing any learning material. The instruction effectively makes verification a shared responsibility across the education value chain, not just a task for school administrators.

Warning over misuse of NaCCA logo

The Council also raised concern about what it described as the unlawful use of its logo on learning materials that have not been assessed or approved. It said some materials carry the Council's name, logo, insignia or other representations that suggest official approval, even though they have not gone through the required process.

NaCCA described the practice as misleading, unauthorised and a violation of the law. It has directed publishers and individuals involved to stop using its identity on unapproved learning materials immediately.

The warning is likely to matter to schools and parents who often use visible official branding as a shortcut for trust. A logo on a book cover may appear convincing, but NaCCA is making clear that branding alone is not proof of approval. The QR code is now the key verification tool stakeholders have been asked to check.

The regulator further warned that failure to comply with the directive would attract appropriate regulatory and legal action. While the notice did not list specific sanctions, the warning signals that NaCCA intends to treat false approval claims as more than a branding issue.

What schools, sellers and parents must check

For schools, the directive means procurement decisions must be backed by confirmation that books and other learning resources have been approved. For booksellers and retailers, it raises the need to review stock before placing materials on shelves or supplying institutions. For publishers, it reinforces that approval must come before market activity.

Parents also have a role, especially where schools request supplementary books or where families buy learning materials independently. NaCCA's message is that buyers should not assume a book is approved because it is widely sold, recommended informally or carries the Council's visual identity.

• Publishers must submit learning materials for assessment and approval before publication or marketing.
• Schools must ensure resources used in classrooms have official approval.
• Booksellers and retailers must verify approval before stocking or distributing materials.
• Parents and the public should check the NaCCA Approval QR Code before purchasing.
• Anyone using NaCCA's logo or name on unapproved materials has been directed to stop immediately.

The Council said the directive forms part of its commitment to protecting quality and integrity within Ghana's pre-tertiary education system. By insisting on approved materials, NaCCA says it wants to ensure that resources used in schools support the curriculum and meet the required standard.

The broader issue is confidence. Schools need to know that the materials they use are aligned with national expectations. Parents need assurance that the books they pay for are legitimate. Publishers need a clear standard for compliance. NaCCA's notice puts all parties on the same footing: approval is the baseline, and verification must happen before a book reaches the learner.

For now, the practical test is straightforward. If a learning material cannot be verified through the official approval system, schools and buyers have been told to treat it with caution before it enters the classroom.