The federal government has introduced a new policy that will see learning outcomes in Nigerian schools assessed every three years.
Tunji Alausa, the minister of education, announced the decision on Friday after inspecting the ongoing 2026 National Learning Assessment in selected schools within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The exercise, conducted in both public and private schools, evaluates the literacy, numeracy and cognitive abilities of pupils in Primary Three and Primary Five, as well as students in Junior Secondary School Two and Senior Secondary School Two.
Alausa said the periodic assessment would become a permanent feature of the country’s education system, explaining that the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) had been directed to begin making financial provisions for the exercise from 2029.
He said the initiative would provide government with reliable information on the actual performance of learners across different levels of education, enabling authorities to identify weaknesses and introduce targeted reforms.
According to the minister, the assessment is expected to generate credible data that will shape education policies, improve classroom instruction and strengthen accountability across schools nationwide.
He expressed concern over the country’s learning deficit, noting that many children still struggle with basic reading and numeracy skills despite years of schooling.
Alausa said regular evaluation would allow the government to monitor progress over time and determine whether ongoing reforms were producing measurable improvements in learning outcomes.
He also disclosed that the Federal Government had streamlined multiple assessment frameworks into a single national system to ensure consistency and make it easier to compare results from one assessment cycle to another.
The minister explained that the initiative forms part of the Federal Government’s broader education reform programme aimed at improving the quality of teaching and producing better learning outcomes.
While acknowledging the contribution of private schools to expanding access to education, he stressed the need for stricter oversight to ensure operators comply with prescribed academic standards.
He also commended the schools visited during the monitoring exercise, describing their learning environments as orderly and conducive to effective teaching and learning.