FG to Scrap Common Entrance, Introduce Learner ID to Track Pupils Nationwide

The Federal Government has outlined plans to discontinue the Junior Secondary School Common Entrance Examination and introduce a Learner Identification Number designed to track pupils throughout their academic progression from primary school.

The Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, made the disclosure during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Saturday.

According to him, the reform is intended to improve access to education while creating a structured system for monitoring pupils across schools nationwide. The existing common entrance examination will be phased out and replaced with a continuous assessment framework.

Under the proposed approach, pupil performance will be recorded over time rather than assessed through a single examination. The minister explained that the records will remain with the learner and follow them even when they transfer between schools.

He said the new system will also help address persistent challenges in student transition from primary to junior secondary education, noting that a significant number of enrolled pupils do not proceed to the next level.

Data cited by the minister indicates that while public primary schools account for tens of millions of pupils, only a small fraction advance to public junior secondary schools. He described the gap as an access issue rather than one of capacity within private institutions.

He added that expanding school infrastructure remains critical, stressing the role of state governments in increasing the number of available schools to accommodate more learners. He noted that discussions have been held with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum on the need for expanded investment in basic education.

Central to the reform is the introduction of a Learner Identification Number assigned to each child from the primary school level. The identifier is expected to remain unique to each pupil regardless of relocation or school transfer.

With the system in place, education authorities would be able to monitor enrolment and progression more effectively, including identifying pupils who fail to continue their education at expected stages.

The minister said the tracking mechanism would make it easier to determine why a learner is absent from school at a particular level and support interventions aimed at reducing dropout rates.

He also disclosed that the government is considering revitalising the school feeding programme as part of broader efforts to increase enrolment in public schools. The initiative may be repositioned under the Ministry of Education to strengthen oversight and implementation.

The proposed changes form part of wider reforms aimed at improving retention, expanding access, and strengthening data-driven planning within the education sector.