The Federal Government has announced plans to phase out the Common Entrance Examination for junior secondary school admissions as part of ongoing education reforms.
The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Lagos.
As part of the new policy direction, the government will introduce a Learner Identification Number (LIN) for every student.
According to the minister, the system will allow authorities to track students’ academic progress from primary school through secondary education.
The initiative is expected to create a more structured and transparent education system, ensuring continuity even when students change schools.
Alausa explained that the Common Entrance Examination will be gradually replaced with a system of Continuous Assessment (CA).
He noted that CA will provide a more comprehensive evaluation of students’ performance over time rather than relying on a single examination.
“The CA will show how well a student has done from primary one,” he said.
He added that the system would allow students to carry their academic records with them when transferring between schools.
“Even if a student moves schools, they can take their CA with them to the new school,” the minister explained.
The minister said the reform is aimed at addressing challenges associated with the transition from primary to secondary education.
He noted that a significant number of students currently struggle to move to the next level, partly due to limitations of the existing examination system.
The new approach, according to him, will improve student progression and ensure that no learner is left behind.
The planned changes are part of broader efforts by the government to modernize Nigeria’s education system and align it with global best practices.
Education stakeholders are expected to closely monitor the implementation of the policy as more details emerge.
