The Federal Government has announced plans to phase out the common entrance examination for pupils seeking admission into junior secondary schools, replacing it with a Continuous Assessment (CA) system. The move, according to the Federal Ministry of Education, is aimed at creating a more comprehensive and accurate evaluation of pupils’ academic performance over time.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos. He explained that the proposed Continuous Assessment system will track pupils’ performance from primary one and follow them throughout their academic journey, even if they transfer between schools. This, he noted, would eliminate the pressure associated with one-off examinations and provide a more reliable measure of a child’s abilities.
In addition, the minister revealed that the government is introducing a Learner Identification Number (LIN) for all pupils from the primary level. The unique number will enable authorities to monitor students’ progress and identify those who drop out of school. He also noted that efforts are underway to revive the school feeding programme and place it under the supervision of the Federal Ministry of Education to improve enrolment, retention, and overall learning outcomes in public schools.
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