The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to phase out the long standing Common Entrance Examination and introduce a Learner Identification Number (LIN) for primary school pupils nationwide.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, as part of ongoing reforms aimed at strengthening the country’s education system and improving learning outcomes.
What is the Learner Identification Number (LIN)?
The Learner Identification Number (LIN) is a unique number that will be assigned to every pupil from their early years in school.
This number will serve as a comprehensive academic record, tracking each student’s:
– Learning progress
– Academic performance
– Educational history over time
– The system is designed to ensure that every child’s development is monitored consistently throughout their educational journey.
Why Scrap the Common Entrance Examination?
The Common Entrance Examination has traditionally been used to determine admission into secondary schools. However, it has faced increasing criticism for:
– Placing excessive pressure on young learners
– Focusing on one-off performance rather than overall ability
– Failing to reflect a student’s full academic potential
– The proposed reform seeks to address these concerns by shifting away from high-stakes, single-day testing.
Shift to Continuous Assessment
With the introduction of the LIN system, student evaluation will be based on a Continuous Assessment (CA) model.
This means learners will be assessed through:
– Consistent classroom performance
– Participation and engagement
– Skills development over time
– Importantly, each student’s assessment record will follow them if they transfer – between schools, ensuring continuity and fairness in evaluation.
Education Reform in Nigeria
According to Dr. Alausa, the initiative forms part of broader efforts to:
– Modernise the education sector
– Improve data management and student tracking
– Reduce school dropout rates
– Promote fairness and inclusivity in student evaluation
If fully implemented, the introduction of the Learner Identification Number could mark a significant shift in Nigeria’s education system, one that prioritises long term learning, holistic development, and data driven decision making over single exam performance.
