FG to scrap common entrance, track pupils digitally

The Federal Government has announced plans to scrap the Junior Secondary School Common Entrance Examination and introduce a Learner Identification Number to track pupils throughout their academic journey.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Saturday.

He explained that the proposed reforms are designed to improve access to education and ensure better monitoring of pupils nationwide. According to him, the common entrance examination will be phased out and replaced with a more comprehensive evaluation system based on continuous assessment.

“It will be replaced by Continuous Assessment (CA), which will reflect a pupil’s performance from primary one. Even if a pupil transfers from one school to another, the record will follow them,” he said.

The minister noted that the new system would help address gaps in the transition from primary to secondary education, particularly the large number of pupils who fail to progress.

Providing data to support the reform, Alausa said that while there are over 50,000 public primary schools with more than 23 million pupils, only just over three million proceed to junior secondary schools.

“This raises the question: where are the remaining 20 million who are not enrolled in public secondary schools?” he asked.

He attributed the situation largely to limited access, stressing the need for state governments to build more schools. He added that private schools cannot absorb the large number of pupils who fail to transition.

“There is a clear access problem. We are addressing it, but states must build more schools to accommodate these pupils,” he said, noting that he has engaged the Nigerian Governors’ Forum on the issue.

To tackle tracking challenges, the minister said the government would introduce a unique Learner Identification Number for each pupil from primary school level.

“It will be assigned to every child and remain with them regardless of where they begin or continue their education,” he explained.

He added that the system would enable authorities to monitor students’ progress and identify those who drop out.

“If a child is expected to be in JSS1 and is not, we will be able to determine why,” he said.

Alausa also revealed that efforts are underway to revive the school feeding programme to boost enrolment in public schools, with consideration being given to transferring its oversight to the Federal Ministry of Education for improved monitoring.

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