Nigeria Overhauls Education System: Government to Track Students Nationwide with Unique ID as Common Entrance Exams Are Abolished

Nigeria is set to implement a sweeping reform of its education system, introducing a nationwide student identification framework designed to monitor academic progress from early schooling through higher education.

Under the new policy, each student will be assigned a unique identification number, allowing authorities to digitally track their educational journey, performance, and transitions across institutions.

As part of the overhaul, the Federal Government has also announced the scrapping of the long-standing Common Entrance Examination, a move aimed at simplifying admissions into secondary schools and reducing systemic bottlenecks.

Officials say the reform is intended to modernize Nigeria’s education sector, improve data-driven planning, and align the country with global best practices in student management and accountability.

The initiative is expected to enhance transparency, curb academic fraud, and provide policymakers with accurate insights into enrollment, retention, and graduation rates across the country.