The Federal Government has declared June 29 to July 3, 2026, as National Learning Assessment Week as part of preparations for Nigeria’s first nationwide assessment of learning outcomes in schools across the country.
The exercise, which will be conducted in the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, is aimed at generating data on students’ learning achievements to support education planning, policy reforms and improved learning outcomes.
According to a statement issued by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, the assessment will be conducted in selected schools and will cover pupils in Primary Three, Primary Five, Junior Secondary School Two (JS2) and Senior Secondary School Two (SS2).
Students will be assessed in English Language, Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology, as well as Citizenship and Heritage Studies.
The ministry explained that the exercise is strictly diagnostic and will not be used for promotion, placement or certification purposes.
Preparations for the assessment began in 2025 through a collaboration involving the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), UNICEF and the World Bank. Assessment instruments have been developed and pilot-tested, while personnel required for the exercise have already undergone training.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the assessment as a significant step towards strengthening accountability in the education sector through evidence-based decision-making.
He noted that the outcome of the exercise would provide reliable information on learners’ achievement levels and support efforts to improve educational quality across the country.
The National Learning Assessment is expected to provide policymakers with data that will guide resource allocation, curriculum improvement and interventions aimed at addressing learning gaps in schools nationwide.
Education stakeholders have consistently called for stronger mechanisms to measure learning outcomes beyond school enrolment and attendance figures, with experts stressing the need for data-driven reforms to improve the quality of education in Nigeria.
