By The Evangelist newspaper
The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to abolish the long-standing common entrance examination as part of a sweeping reform of the country’s basic education system.
In its place, the government will introduce a Learner Identification Number (LIN), a unique tracking system designed to monitor the academic progression of students from early schooling through higher levels of education.
The proposed reform is aimed at creating a more efficient, data-driven education system that captures each learner’s academic history, performance, and mobility across schools nationwide. Officials say the initiative will enhance planning, improve policy implementation, and curb irregularities associated with student records and admissions.
According to education authorities, the scrapping of the common entrance examination is intended to reduce undue pressure on young learners while promoting a more holistic assessment framework. The new system is also expected to standardize student data nationwide and support seamless transitions between educational levels.
Stakeholders in the education sector have expressed mixed reactions. While some have welcomed the innovation as a necessary step toward modernization, others have raised concerns about implementation challenges, data privacy, and infrastructure readiness, particularly in rural areas.
The government, however, has assured that adequate measures will be put in place to ensure a smooth transition, including capacity building for educators and deployment of digital infrastructure to support the new tracking system.
The reform marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s education policy, signaling a move toward technology-driven management of learners and a departure from traditional examination-based entry systems.
