By Erewunmi Peace

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced plans to phase out the traditional Common Entrance Examination for admission into Junior Secondary School 1 (JSS 1), replacing it with a Continuous Assessment model.

Under the new system, students’ academic progress will be tracked throughout primary school, and their performance will determine eligibility for secondary school admission. The government also plans to introduce a Learner Identification Number (LIN) for every pupil to facilitate monitoring and ensure fair placement across schools nationwide.

While the traditional exam will be phased out, some specialized entrance exams, such as those for Unity Colleges, are expected to continue in line with current competitive admission practices.

Education authorities say the reforms aim to reduce exam pressure on pupils, improve educational outcomes, and make the transition from primary to secondary school more reflective of students’ overall performance rather than a single examination score.

Parents, teachers, and stakeholders have welcomed the development, describing it as a significant step toward modernizing Nigeria’s educational system.

Further guidelines on implementation and timelines are expected to be released by the Ministry of Education in the coming weeks.