𝗙𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗨𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗶𝗹𝘀 𝗠𝗮𝗷𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝘀, 𝗦𝗰𝗿𝗮𝗽𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝗲 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗲 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗜𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿 (𝗟𝗜𝗡), 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗦𝗰𝗵𝗼𝗼𝗹 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲.

𝗕𝗬 𝗡𝗜𝗚𝗘𝗥𝗗𝗘𝗟𝗧𝗔 𝗩𝗢𝗜𝗖𝗘,

21𝘀𝘁 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗰𝗵, 2026.

The Federal Government has announced sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s education sector, including plans to scrap the Common Entrance Examination, introduce a Learner Identification Number (LIN), and transfer the national school feeding programme to the Federal Ministry of Education.

The Minister of Education disclosed that the reforms are part of efforts to address systemic challenges, improve access to education, and strengthen monitoring of pupils across the country.

A key component of the reform is the introduction of a Learner Identification Number (LIN) for pupils beginning from primary school. The number will be unique to each child and will remain with them throughout their academic journey, regardless of school transfers.

According to the minister, the initiative will enable authorities to track students’ progression and identify those who drop out of the system. This aligns with ongoing efforts to strengthen student data management and continuity in academic records across schools.

He expressed concern over the widening gap in school transition rates, revealing that although Nigeria has over 50,000 public primary schools with more than 23 million pupils, only slightly above three million proceed to junior secondary school within the public system.

“This indicates that a significant number of children are not continuing their education, and they are not all being absorbed by private institutions,” he said.

The minister attributed the trend largely to limited access to schools, noting that the Federal Government is collaborating with state governments to expand infrastructure and accommodate the growing number of students nationwide.

As part of measures to boost enrollment and retention, the government also plans to revive the school feeding programme and relocate its administration from the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs to the Federal Ministry of Education. The move is expected to enhance coordination, improve oversight, and ensure better implementation.

In addition, the proposed scrapping of the Common Entrance Examination is aimed at removing barriers within the transition process and streamlining basic education, although details of the replacement framework are yet to be fully outlined.

The reforms come amid broader efforts by the government to modernize Nigeria’s education system, improve accountability, and curb dropout rates at the foundational level.

Further policy guidelines and implementation timelines are expected to be released by the Ministry of Education in due course.