The Nigerian government plans to abolish the National Common Entrance Examination, a significant shift in the country’s educational framework. This reform will introduce a Learner Identification Number (LIN) system aimed at tracking pupils throughout their academic journey.
According to Tunji Alausa, a representative of the Nigerian government, the Common Entrance Examination will be replaced by Continuous Assessment (CA). “The CA will reflect the performance of the pupil from primary one,” Alausa stated, emphasizing the importance of continuous evaluation over a single examination.
Currently, Nigeria has over 50,000 public primary schools with more than 23 million pupils enrolled. However, only a little over 3 million pupils transition to junior secondary school from these public primary institutions. This leaves approximately 20 million pupils not enrolled in public secondary schools, highlighting a significant gap in educational access.
The government’s focus on improving access to education is evident in its plans to implement the LIN system starting at the primary level. This initiative aims to provide better tracking of pupils and identify those who are not progressing in their education. Alausa noted, “If someone is expected to be in JSS1 and he is not there, we will be able to know the reason why he is not continuing his education.”
In addition to the LIN system, the government is collaborating with state governments to build more schools, addressing the issue of inadequate educational infrastructure. Efforts are also underway to revive the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme, which aims to support student retention and performance.
The Common Entrance Examination has historically governed the transition from primary to secondary school in Nigeria. The upcoming changes reflect a broader effort by the government to enhance educational outcomes and ensure that more pupils have the opportunity to continue their studies.
As these reforms are set to take effect, observers are keen to see how the LIN system will impact enrollment and educational attainment across the country. Details remain unconfirmed regarding the exact timeline for the implementation of these changes.