By Peace Udugba -The daily torch media
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to phase out the long-standing common entrance examination for pupils transitioning from primary to junior secondary school, signaling a major shift in Nigeria’s basic education system.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed that the proposed reform will replace the one-off examination with a Continuous Assessment system. Under the new approach, pupils’ academic performance will be tracked from primary one through a structured evaluation process that remains valid even if a child transfers between schools.
As part of the reform, the government also plans to introduce a Learner Identification Number (LIN) for all primary school pupils. The initiative is aimed at improving data tracking, monitoring academic progress, and addressing dropout rates across the country.
In addition, oversight of the national school feeding programme is set to be moved to the Federal Ministry of Education. The change is expected to strengthen accountability and enhance the programme’s role in encouraging enrolment and retention in public schools.
Education stakeholders say the shift to continuous assessment could reduce examination pressure on young learners while offering a more comprehensive evaluation of their abilities.
It may also ease the financial burden on parents who often spend heavily preparing their children for a single high-stakes test.
While the policy direction marks a significant departure from the traditional examination model, attention is now turning to implementation. Analysts note that the success of the reform will depend on how effectively the new system improves access, retention, and overall learning outcomes in Nigeria’s education sector.
