FG to scrap Common Entrance, introduce Learner ID for pupils

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to abolish the Junior Secondary School Common Entrance Examination and introduce a nationwide Learner Identification Number system aimed at tracking pupils throughout their academic journey.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed the proposal during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, explaining that the reforms are designed to improve access to education and ensure better monitoring of pupils across the country.

Under the new framework, the existing common entrance examination will be phased out and replaced with a Continuous Assessment (CA) system. The minister said the new approach would evaluate pupils based on their performance from primary one and allow them to transfer their academic records seamlessly when moving between schools.

Alausa noted that the reform is intended to address longstanding gaps in the transition from primary to secondary education, particularly the alarming number of pupils who fail to progress.

According to him, Nigeria currently has over 50,000 public primary schools with more than 23 million pupils, yet only slightly above 3 million transition to junior secondary school level within the public system.

He described the disparity as a clear indication of limited access, stressing that the shortfall cannot be entirely absorbed by private schools.

“The issue is simply lack of access,” the minister said, adding that the Federal Government is engaging state governments to expand infrastructure and build more schools to accommodate the growing number of pupils.

To complement the reforms, the government plans to introduce a unique Learner Identification Number for every child from the primary school level. The number will remain with each pupil throughout their education, regardless of transfers between schools.

The system, he explained, will enable authorities to track students’ progress and identify those who drop out, ensuring timely intervention.

“If a child is expected to be in JSS1 and is not there, we will be able to determine the reason,” Alausa said.

The minister also revealed that efforts are underway to revive the school feeding programme as part of strategies to boost enrolment and retention in public schools. He added that the programme may be moved under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education to enhance monitoring and effectiveness.

The proposed measures form part of broader government efforts to strengthen the education sector, improve retention rates, and ensure that more Nigerian children complete their basic education.