The Federal Government has unveiled plans to phase out the long-standing Common Entrance Examination, replacing it with a nationwide Learner Identification Number system designed to track pupils’ academic progress from early schooling through their educational journey.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, who said the reform is part of a broader strategy to modernise Nigeria’s education system and improve learning outcomes through data-driven monitoring.
Under the proposed framework, every pupil will be assigned a unique Learner Identification Number (LIN), which will function as a centralised academic record capturing each child’s performance, progression, and educational history over time. The system is expected to follow students across schools, ensuring continuity in assessment even when they transfer between institutions.
Speaking on the reform, Alausa said, “This is a decisive shift from reliance on a single examination to a more comprehensive evaluation of a child’s learning journey,” underscoring the government’s intent to move away from high-stakes testing toward continuous assessment.
The Common Entrance Examination, which has historically determined admission into secondary schools, has come under sustained criticism for placing undue pressure on pupils and focusing narrowly on one-off performance rather than overall academic development. Education stakeholders have also argued that the system fails to capture a student’s full capabilities.
With the introduction of the LIN system, assessment will instead be based on continuous evaluation, incorporating classroom performance, participation, and skills development over time. The approach is aimed at providing a more holistic measure of learning while promoting fairness and inclusivity.
The minister noted that the reform would also strengthen education data management, enabling authorities to better monitor student outcomes and address systemic challenges such as dropout rates. “This is about creating an education system that works for every Nigerian child, one that is efficient, transparent, and focused on long-term development,” he said.
