The Federal government has unveiled plans to stop the Junior Secondary School Common Entryway Evaluation and change it with an across the country trainee tracking structure anchored on a Student Recognition Number.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, divulged the proposition throughout an interactive session with journalists in Lagos on Saturday, outlining a series of reforms aimed at improving gain access to, tracking, and progression within the country’s education system.
Under the brand-new plan, the existing entrance examination will be slowly removed and substituted with a continuous evaluation design that records pupils’ academic performance from their early years in main school. The minister explained that this system would enable a more thorough evaluation of students in time, rather than depending on a single examination.
He noted that the continuous evaluation records would follow students throughout their academic journey, including instances where they move between schools. According to him, the method is developed to make sure continuity in scholastic records and offer a clearer picture of each learner’s development.
The reform is also anticipated to address longstanding concerns about the shift from primary to junior secondary education, particularly the significant number of students who fail to progress to the next stage. Pointing out government information, the minister highlighted a plain space in enrolment figures.
Nigeria presently has over 50,000 public primary schools with an estimated 23 million students. However, just a little above 3 countless these learners proceed to junior secondary schools within the general public system. The disparity, he noted, raises concerns about the whereabouts of millions of school-age children who are not represented at the secondary level.
The minister attributed this space mainly to minimal access, mentioning that existing private schools can not soak up the shortage. He worried the need for state federal governments to expand academic infrastructure to accommodate more trainees, exposing that discussions had currently been accepted the Nigerian Governors’ Forum on the matter.
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As part of efforts to enhance monitoring, the federal government prepares to assign an unique Student Recognition Number to every kid from the point of entry into primary school. The identifier, according to the minister, will stay with each student despite school transfers, enabling authorities to track their academic progression nationwide.
He explained that the system would make it easier to detect and investigate cases where trainees drop out or fail to transition in between levels. By identifying such gaps early, policymakers would be much better placed to execute targeted interventions.
In addition to these measures, the minister divulged that steps are being taken to revive the school feeding programme as part of wider efforts to increase enrolment and retention in public schools. He included that there are considerations to move the program under the guidance of the Federal Ministry of Education to improve oversight and efficiency.
The proposed modifications form part of a larger method by the Federal government to reform the education sector, improve retention rates, and make sure that more Nigerian children finish their fundamental education.