The Federal Government has announced a sweeping reform of Nigeria’s basic education system, marking a significant shift in how pupils are assessed and monitored nationwide.

Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, revealed the new policy during a media briefing in Lagos, stating that the long-standing Junior Secondary School Common Entrance Examination will be gradually phased out. In its place, the government will adopt a Continuous Assessment (CA) model designed to evaluate pupils based on their academic performance from the early years of primary education.

According to Alausa, the new system will ensure that each child’s academic record is consistently tracked throughout their schooling, regardless of changes in location or institution. “Continuous assessment will reflect a pupil’s performance from primary one, and it will move with them wherever they go,” he explained.

The reform comes in response to growing concerns about the gap between primary and junior secondary school enrolment. Despite over 23 million pupils currently enrolled in more than 50,000 public primary schools across the country, only a fraction successfully transition to the next level.

“This leaves a huge number of children unaccounted for within the system. It is a clear indication of limited access,” the minister noted, calling for urgent intervention.

As part of the reform, the government will introduce a Learner Identification Number (LIN) for every pupil. This unique ID will enable authorities to track students’ academic journey, identify those at risk of dropping out, and intervene promptly.

“With this system, if a child fails to transition to the next level, we will know and be able to intervene,” Alausa said.

The minister also urged state governments to expand educational infrastructure, stressing that existing schools are insufficient to accommodate the growing population of learners.

In addition, the Federal Government plans to revitalise the school feeding programme to boost enrolment and reduce dropout rates, particularly among children from low-income families.

The comprehensive reform, Alausa said, is part of a broader national strategy to strengthen the education system, improve retention, and ensure that more Nigerian children complete their basic education.