FG Moves To Tackle Learning Poverty With Nationwide Assessment

The Federal Government has commenced a nationwide learning assessment to measure pupils’ literacy, numeracy and cognitive skills as part of renewed efforts to tackle Nigeria’s education crisis.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, who spoke in Abuja on Friday after monitoring the exercise, said the assessment will provide the data required to reform the country’s education system. He monitored the test at Government Secondary School, Kuje; Government Junior Secondary School, Kuje Central; and Topaz Model Primary School, Kango.

According to the minister, the exercise covers Primary Three, Primary Five, Junior Secondary School 2 and Senior Secondary School 2. It focuses on English Language, Mathematics, Basic Science and non-cognitive skills to determine the quality of learning across the country.

“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.

He described the assessment as a key component of the Nigerian Education Sector Renewal Initiative and said it would serve as a benchmark for tracking learning outcomes every three years.

The minister noted that Nigeria had not conducted learning assessments consistently, with the last one done by the Universal Basic Education Commission in 2023 and the one before that by the Federal Ministry of Education in 2019.

“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.

Alausa expressed concern over Nigeria’s learning poverty, saying a good number of children were unable to read age-appropriate texts by the age of ten.

He said the assessment would help government identify learning gaps and implement targeted interventions to improve outcomes nationwide.

The minister added that the ministry had harmonised multiple assessment models into a single national framework to ensure consistency and enable year-on-year comparison of results.

“We have customised different learning assessments into one standardised 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 said.

Speaking on infrastructure after inspecting public and private schools in Kuje, Alausa commended the FCT for the state of its public schools.

“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 role of private schools in expanding access, he called for stronger 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 added.

Also speaking, the FCT Mandate Secretary for Education, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, described the nationwide assessment as a major step towards improving learning outcomes.

He said the FCT Administration remained committed to the initiative and had renovated more than 120 public schools, including Government Secondary School, Kuje.

“We appreciate the Minister for this initiative. We will continue to support every policy that will improve the quality of education in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda,” Hayyo said.