Nigeria Announces Learner ID for Primary Pupils to Track Progress

The Nigerian Federal Government has announced a major initiative to introduce a unique Learner Identification Number for all primary school pupils nationwide, aimed at tracking their academic progress and addressing high dropout rates. The plan, disclosed by Education Minister Tunji Alausa during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Saturday, also includes proposals to phase out the National Common Entrance Examination for transition to junior secondary school and replace it with a continuous assessment model.

Alausa highlighted the initiative as a response to significant gaps in the education system, particularly the transition from primary to junior secondary levels. He noted that Nigeria has more than 50,000 public primary schools enrolling over 23 million pupils, yet only about three million of them proceed to public junior secondary schools. "The question is, where are the remaining millions?" Alausa said, pointing to limited access to schools as the primary challenge. The minister explained that the Learner Identification Number would be assigned to each child from primary school, remaining with them regardless of transfers between institutions. This...