The Federal Government has announced plans to scrap the Junior Secondary School Common Entrance Examination and replace it with a Continuous Assessment system, while introducing a unique Learner Identification Number (LIN) to track pupils’ academic journeys from primary school.Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa made the disclosure during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos at the weekend. The reforms form part of broader efforts to modernise Nigeria’s basic education sector, improve student tracking, reduce dropout rates, and promote a more holistic approach to evaluating learners.
What is the Learner Identification Number (LIN)?The Learner Identification Number is a unique digital identifier to be assigned to every child starting from primary school level. According to the minister, the LIN will remain with the pupil throughout their educational journey, regardless of school transfers.“It will be unique to each child and they will have the number no matter where they started schooling or later transferred to,” Alausa explained. The system is expected to enable authorities to monitor progress, attendance, and transitions, helping to identify and address cases of dropout early.
Alausa highlighted concerns over low transition rates, noting that while Nigeria has over 23 million pupils enrolled in more than 50,000 public primary schools, only about 3 million proceed to public junior secondary schools.End of the Common Entrance ExaminationThe long-standing National Common Entrance Examination, traditionally used for admission into junior secondary schools, will be phased out. It will be replaced by Continuous Assessment (CA), which will reflect a pupil’s performance from Primary One through ongoing classroom work, participation, and skills development.“The Common Entrance Examination will be phased out and replaced by Continuous Assessment (CA). The CA will reflect the performance of the pupil from primary one and even if a pupil is transferring from one school to another, he will take it along to his new school,” the minister stated.
Objectives of the ReformThe initiative aims to:Shift from high-stakes, one-off examinations to a more comprehensive and continuous evaluation model
Reduce undue pressure on young learners
Ensure fairer assessment that captures overall ability and long-term development
Strengthen data management and student tracking nationwide
Promote inclusivity and continuity in education, particularly for pupils who change schools
Alausa described the changes as critical for addressing challenges in access, retention, and quality within the basic education system.Reactions and ImplementationThe announcement has sparked discussions among education stakeholders, with some welcoming the move towards continuous assessment while others await further details on implementation, including how the LIN system will be rolled out and integrated with existing structures.No specific timeline for full implementation was provided in the minister’s remarks, but the reforms are expected to be rolled out progressively.If successfully implemented, the policy could represent one of the most significant shifts in Nigeria’s basic education assessment framework in recent years, moving away from examination-centric admissions toward a data-driven, learner-centred approach focused on sustained progress and reduced dropout rates.
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