The Federal Government has introduced new national guidelines for the management and submission of Continuous Assessment scores in secondary schools, requiring examination bodies including the West African Examinations Council and the National Examinations Council to establish secure portals linked to the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure.
The new policy, which will apply to public and government-approved private secondary schools nationwide, is expected to standardise the collection, storage and use of students’ Continuous Assessment records.
Under the guidelines, students’ National Learner Identity Numbers must be linked to their National Identification Numbers, creating a unified digital identity for learners across the education system.
Schools to Meet Fixed Submission Deadlines
Beginning with the 2026/2027 academic session, schools will be required to submit Continuous Assessment records according to fixed nationwide deadlines.
First-term records are to be uploaded in January, second-term records in April, while third-term records must be submitted in August.
The new system means schools will no longer be able to upload or amend Continuous Assessment data whenever they choose, as the relevant portals will open and close within specified periods.
The policy is also designed to strengthen the integrity of students’ assessment records and reduce opportunities for retrospective manipulation or falsification of scores before final examinations.
Student Results to Follow Them During Transfers
The guidelines also establish a formal digital process for transferring students between schools.
Schools will be required to initiate transfer requests through the system, while receiving schools must formally accept or reject such requests.
Once approved, a learner’s records will automatically be updated on the relevant examination portal, with previous Continuous Assessment data transferred along with the student.
This means Continuous Assessment records will be attached to the learner rather than the school. Schools will therefore not be permitted to independently delete or alter a student’s previous assessment records.
Suspended Schools Face Sanctions
The Federal Government has also prescribed sanctions for schools and examination bodies that fail to comply with the new requirements.
Possible penalties include suspension and blacklisting, with violations including examination malpractice, failure to comply with registration directives, misrepresentation of learners and fraudulent submission of Continuous Assessment records.
Where a school is suspended, its Continuous Assessment portal will be blocked immediately and its students will be flagged as “orphaned” on the system.
The relevant examination body will also be required to notify the affected state Ministry of Education within two days of the suspension.
Students from suspended schools are expected to be transferred to nearby accredited schools or approved temporary examination centres, while their existing Continuous Assessment records are preserved.
FG to Monitor Implementation
The Federal Ministry of Education will oversee compliance through its Basic and Senior Secondary Education Departments, with the authority to intervene where necessary.
Education Minister, Dr Tunji Alausa, recently reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to reforming the education sector and making it more globally competitive while engaging state education commissioners, school owners, administrators, examination bodies and other stakeholders.
The new guidelines are expected to address longstanding challenges surrounding the collection and use of school-based Continuous Assessment scores in senior secondary school examinations.
The policy will be reviewed after one year of implementation where necessary, according to the guidelines.
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