By Mariam Abeeb
Nigeria is undergoing a major overhaul of its education system, transitioning from the 6-3-3-4 structure to a 12-year, 12-4 mandatory basic education model designed to improve quality, skill acquisition, and digital literacy. Key reforms include a new curriculum with 15 vocational skills, mandatory Computer-Based Testing (CBT)for exams, and the Learner Identification Number (LIN) for tracking students.
The system is shifting toward a 12-year basic education model, focusing on skill acquisition (e.g., robotics, agriculture, GSM repairs) to reduce youth unemployment.
The government has introduced the National Educational Technology (EdTech) Strategyto enhance digital learning, alongside the Learner Identification Number (LIN) for improved student tracking and academic continuity.
All WAEC and NECO exams are transitioning to Computer-Based Testing (CBT) by 2026 to enhance integrity, with JAMB centers being utilized for this purpose.
From the 2025/2026 academic year, primary and junior secondary students will receive training in 15 core skill areas, including Solar PV installation, CCTV maintenance, and fashion design.
The Lagos State government is digitizing private school registration to improve regulatory compliance and ensure consistent learning standards.
The federal government plans to retrain teachers to align with the new curriculum, which is designed to reduce the subject load and focus on critical thinking.
These reforms, driven by the Federal Ministry of Education, aim to better align with international standards and create a “technologically driven” sector.
The Nigerian Federal Government has launched a nationwide Learner Identification Number (LIN) system, a digital initiative assigning every student a permanent, traceable academic identity from primary school. Led by the Ministry of Education, it aims to reduce dropout rates, improve data-driven planning, and facilitate tracking students through transfers and into secondary education.
Each child receives a unique ID, ensuring their academic records follow them across schools and locations.
The system allows authorities to detect when students leave school and, if they do not transition to the next level (e.g., JSS1), investigate why.
The government plans to replace the traditional Common Entrance examination with Continuous Assessment (CA)(from Primary 1), focusing on ongoing performance rather than one-day tests.
Scope: The initiative applies to all primary school pupils in both public and private schools.The reform aims to boost retention rates, with statistics showing only about 3 million of 23 million primary pupils moving to Junior Secondary School.
The Ministry is reducing the number of subjects in the curriculum to cut down on subject overload and boost skill development.The program is being returned to the Ministry of Education to improve enrollment and nutrition.
The government is moving towards a 12-year, uninterrupted basic education system to reduce financial and systemic barriers to schooling.
The initiative, championed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, is part of the “Renewed Hope Agenda” aimed at modernising the educational sector through technology-driven reforms.
The Minister described the initiative as a transformational milestone aligned with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, highlighting its focus on human capital development, improved service delivery, and technology-driven reforms in the education sector.
He explained that the initiative marks a turning point in our education system. By assigning every learner a unique number, we are building a structure that supports each child’s journey from classroom to career, while ensuring that no one is left behind.
According to him , in the first phase, over 1.9 million candidates registered for the 2026 examinations conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) have already been issued their Learner Identification Numbers.
He added that the rollout represents a significant step toward strengthening education data management and safeguarding the integrity of public examinations.
According to him,the LIN provides each learner with a unique and permanent education identity, enabling seamless tracking of academic progression across all levels. Each number is structured to capture critical information, including state, local government area, school, and an individual student code, ensuring continuity of records even when learners relocate or transfer between schools.
“The initiative builds on the Digitized National Education Management Information System (DNEMIS), which has established a comprehensive national register of schools
“Every school in Nigeria has been assigned a unique ten-digit identification number, providing a reliable foundation for a fully integrated national education database. By linking learners to verified identities and their registered schools, the system strengthens examination verification processes, helps curb impersonation, and reinforces the credibility and integrity of examinations nationwide.
“Beyond enhancing examination security, the LIN will enable the government to identify out-of-school children, track student progression, detect dropouts, and address learning gaps, supporting timely and targeted interventions to ensure that every learner counts. The platform is fully digital, publicly accessible, and environmentally friendly, reflecting a major milestone in modernising Nigeria’s education system.
“The Ministry confirmed that the next phase will extend coverage to all learners across public and private schools nationwide, with implementation expected to expand through national data platforms and the Annual School Census to guarantee comprehensive reach.
“The Federal Ministry of Education calls on all stakeholders including schools, examination bodies, parents, and students to actively support the LIN system and comply with all related processes.
“The Ministry remains committed to leveraging technology, data, and innovation to deliver a transparent, inclusive, and accountable education system that secures the future of every Nigerian child,” he stated.
