FG to Introduce Learner ID, Phase Out JSS Entrance Exam

The Federal Government of Nigeria, represented by Dr. Tunji Alausa from the Federal Ministry of Education, announced plans to phase out the Junior Secondary School (JSS) entrance exam.

This change will be accompanied by the introduction of a learner identification number for students, which will help track their academic progress from primary school. The initiative aims to encourage school enrollment, especially as statistics reveal that only about 3 million out of 23 million pupils transition to junior secondary school from public primary schools.

The government is also working to resuscitate the Homegrown School Feeding Programme (HGSFP) to attract more pupils to public schools. The HGSFP will be transferred to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Poverty Reduction, and Disaster Management for better monitoring.

The new learner identification number will ensure that each child has a unique identifier, allowing for continuous assessment of their performance, regardless of school transfers or delays in starting school.