By Kwin Israel, The Sight News
In a major push to reverse Nigeria’s worsening learning crisis, the Federal Government has commenced a nationwide assessment of pupils’ literacy, numeracy and cognitive skills, describing the exercise as a critical step towards rescuing the country’s education system and improving learning outcomes.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, who monitored the exercise in schools across Kuje, Abuja, on Friday, said the National Learning Assessment (NLA) would provide the evidence and data needed to drive far-reaching reforms in the education sector.
The assessment, which covers pupils in Primary Three, Primary Five, Junior Secondary School Two (JSS2) and Senior Secondary School Two (SSS2), evaluates learners in English Language, Mathematics, Basic Science and non-cognitive skills.
“We are conducting this National Learning Assessment to determine the level of understanding of our students in key subjects and to measure their literacy, numeracy and cognitive development,” Alausa said.
The minister described the exercise as a key pillar of the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative, noting that it would serve as the country’s benchmark for measuring learning outcomes every three years.
He lamented the country’s high level of learning poverty, disclosing that a significant number of Nigerian children are unable to read and comprehend age-appropriate texts by the age of 10.
According to him, the assessment will help the government identify learning gaps and deploy targeted interventions to address deficiencies in the education system.
Dr. Alausa noted that Nigeria has not consistently conducted national learning assessments, recalling that the last exercise by the Federal Ministry of Education was held in 2019, while the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) conducted another in 2023.
“Learning assessment should be conducted every three years. We have now put robust processes in place, and UBEC has been directed to make dedicated budgetary provisions so the assessment becomes a regular national exercise beginning from 2029,” he said.
The minister further revealed that the government had harmonised various assessment models into a single standardised framework to guarantee consistency and facilitate year-on-year comparisons of learning outcomes.
“We have customized different learning assessments into one standardized National Learning Assessment. This will allow us to consistently measure progress as we transform the education sector and ensure every Nigerian child receives quality education,” he added.
After inspecting public and private schools in Kuje, the minister commended the quality of infrastructure and learning environment in public schools within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), describing the schools as clean, well-maintained and conducive for learning.
“I was impressed by what I saw in the public schools. The environment was clean, the students looked healthy and happy, and there was evidence of good maintenance and greening. I commend the FCT Administration for the quality of the schools,” he said.
While acknowledging the crucial role of private schools in expanding access to education and reducing the burden of out-of-school children, the minister called for stricter regulation to ensure compliance with minimum standards.
“Private schools have helped us keep many children in school. Without them, we would have far more out-of-school children. What we need is to encourage them while strengthening regulation to ensure they meet the required standards and provide conducive learning environments,” he stated.
Also speaking, the FCT Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, described the nationwide assessment as a landmark initiative that would significantly improve educational outcomes across the country.
Dr. Hayyo disclosed that the FCT Administration had renovated more than 120 public schools, including Government Secondary School, Kuje, as part of efforts to enhance the quality of education.
“We appreciate the Honourable Minister for this initiative. The FCT Administration has renovated over 120 public schools, including Government Secondary School, Kuje, and we will continue to support every policy that will improve the quality of education in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” he said.
