Minister of Education Dr. Tunji Alausa has announced that the Federal Government will phase out the National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE) in favor of a longitudinal Continuous Assessment (CA) system and a unique Learner Identification Number (LIN).
The Federal Government of Nigeria is set to implement a transformative shift in the basic education sector by phasing out the long-standing National Common Entrance Examination (NCEE). Speaking during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Friday, March 20, 2026, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, revealed that the high-stakes placement exam for pupils moving into Junior Secondary School (JSS) will be replaced by a comprehensive Continuous Assessment (CA) system. This new model is designed to reflect a pupil’s academic performance starting from Primary One, ensuring that a single examination no longer dictates a child’s educational future. “The CA will reflect the performance of the pupil from primary one, and even if a pupil is transferring from one school to another, he will take it along to his new school,” Alausa explained
To support this transition, the Ministry is introducing a mandatory Learner Identification Number (LIN) for every child enrolled in the primary school system. This digital tracking tool will enable educational authorities to monitor academic progress and completion rates as students advance toward senior secondary levels. By assigning a unique identifier to each learner, the government aims to reduce the “dropout gap” and ensure that academic records remain seamless even when students move across state lines or between private and public institutions. The LIN is expected to become the primary prerequisite for enrollment in any government-funded secondary school starting in the 2026/2027 academic session.
In a further effort to bolster public school enrollment, Dr. Alausa disclosed that the National Home-Grown School Feeding Programme is being revived and restructured. In a significant administrative pivot, the program is being moved from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to the Federal Ministry of Education. The Minister noted that this move is essential for “proper monitoring” and to ensure the program fulfills its core mandate of attracting out-of-school children back into the classroom. By integrating nutrition directly into the educational oversight framework, the government hopes to stabilize attendance figures which have fluctuated amid recent economic challenges and rising food costs.
| Feature | Old System | New System (Effective 2026/27) |
| Placement Criteria | National Common Entrance Exam | Continuous Assessment (CA) |
| Student Tracking | Manual Records/State-based | Learner Identification Number (LIN) |
| Feeding Program | Humanitarian Affairs Ministry | Federal Ministry of Education |
| Primary Goal | Selective Placement | Retention & Completion Tracking |
NEWS NOW:
