The Federal Government has stepped up efforts to tackle Nigeria’s learning crisis with the rollout of a comprehensive National Learning Assessment aimed at evaluating pupils’ academic performance, improving teaching quality and reducing learning poverty across the country.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, revealed this on Friday after monitoring the ongoing assessment during a working visit to Government Secondary School, Junior Secondary School, Kuje Central and Topaz Model Primary School, all in Kuje Area Council in the Federal Capital Territory.

The Guardian reports that the assessment covers pupils in primary three and five as well as students in Junior Secondary School Two, focusing on English Language, Mathematics, Basic Science and cognitive skills to determine literacy, numeracy and overall learning outcomes.

Dr Alausa described the National Learning Assessment as a key component of the Federal Government’s education reform agenda, explaining that it would provide credible data to guide evidence-based policymaking and improve learning outcomes across the country.

The minister noted that Nigeria had not conducted learning assessments consistently, recalling that the most recent nationwide exercise was undertaken by the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) in 2023, while the Federal Ministry of Education last conducted one in 2019. To address the gap, he said the assessment would now be institutionalised every three years, with UBEC directed to make dedicated budgetary provisions starting from the 2029 exercise.

According to the minister, regular assessments are critical to determining whether pupils are acquiring the expected knowledge and skills at different stages of their education.

He acknowledged the country’s longstanding learning challenges, including high levels of learning poverty, but expressed confidence that ongoing reforms would improve literacy, numeracy and overall academic achievement. He added that the findings from the assessment would establish a reliable benchmark for targeted interventions where they are most needed.

Alausa said the initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s education transformation agenda, stressing that the government is standardising learning assessments nationwide to ensure uniform measurement of students’ academic performance and to raise education quality to globally competitive standards.

During his inspection of the schools, the minister expressed satisfaction with the condition of Government Secondary School, Kuje, and Junior Secondary School, Kuje Central, commending the improvements in infrastructure, cleanliness and the overall learning environment.

He also lauded the management of Topaz Model Primary School, a private institution, for maintaining quality facilities despite growing enrolment, noting that private schools continue to play a vital role in expanding access to education.

He, however, emphasised that beyond infrastructure, effective teaching and improved learning outcomes remain the true indicators of a successful education system.

Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary for Education at the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA), Dr. Danlami Hayyo, said the minister’s visit underscored the administration’s sustained investment in public education.

He disclosed that more than 120 public schools had been renovated, including Government Secondary School, Kuje, with upgrades covering classrooms, hostels, toilets and other critical facilities to provide a more conducive environment for learning.

Hayyo reaffirmed the FCTA’s commitment to supporting the Federal Ministry of Education’s reform initiatives, describing the National Learning Assessment as a significant step towards strengthening educational standards.

He expressed optimism that the exercise would generate the data needed to inform future policies, curriculum improvements and targeted interventions aimed at enhancing learning outcomes countrywide.

Alausa described the exercise as a major pillar of the Federal Government’s education reform agenda, stressing that periodic learning assessments would provide reliable data for evidence-based policy decisions and improved learning outcomes.

According to him, Nigeria has not conducted learning assessments consistently, noting that the last national exercise was carried out in 2023 by the Universal Basic Education Commission,UBEC, while the previous one was conducted in 2019 by the Federal Ministry of Education.

He announced that the assessment would henceforth be institutionalised every three years, with UBEC directed to make dedicated budgetary provisions beginning with the 2029 exercise.

“The importance of learning assessment is that we need to know the quality of education we are giving our children at different levels. We must know whether they are actually learning because learning outcomes are the foundation of national development,” he said.

The minister acknowledged that Nigeria has faced significant learning challenges over the years, citing previous statistics indicating widespread learning poverty among school-age children. He, however, clarified that those figures were based on earlier data and expressed optimism that recent reforms would produce better outcomes.

“This assessment will provide us with current benchmarks. Once we know where we stand, we can implement targeted interventions to improve literacy, numeracy and overall learning outcomes across the country,” he added.

Alausa linked the initiative to President Bola Tinubu’s education transformation agenda, describing education as central to the administration’s vision of building a globally competitive economy.

He said the government was standardising learning assessments nationwide to ensure consistency in measuring students’ academic performance over time.

“This is part of our broader strategy to transform education and ensure every Nigerian child receives quality education comparable to global standards,” he stated.

During the inspection tour, the minister expressed satisfaction with the condition of schools visited in the FCT, particularly commending improvements in infrastructure, cleanliness and the learning environment.

He described Government Secondary School, Kuje, and Junior Secondary School, Kuje Central, as well-maintained, noting that students appeared healthy, motivated and were learning in conducive environments.

“I was impressed with what I saw. The schools are clean, the students are happy, and the learning environment is conducive. I commend the FCT Administration for the improvements,” he said.

At Topaz Model Primary School, a private institution, Alausa praised the school’s management for maintaining quality facilities despite classroom congestion.

He acknowledged the critical role private schools play in expanding access to education, saying they have helped accommodate thousands of children who might otherwise have remained out of school.

“Private schools have contributed significantly to keeping children in school. We should continue to encourage them while ensuring effective regulation and adherence to established standards,” he said.

He stressed that beyond physical infrastructure, the quality of classroom teaching and pupils’ learning outcomes remained the ultimate measure of educational success.

Also speaking, the Mandate Secretary for Education in the Federal Capital Territory Administration ,FCTA, Dr. Danlami Hayyo, said the minister’s visit highlighted ongoing efforts by the FCT Administration to improve education through massive investment in school infrastructure.

Hayyo disclosed that the FCT Administration had renovated more than 120 public schools, including Government Secondary School, Kuje, where the minister conducted part of the monitoring exercise.

According to him, the renovations covered classrooms, boarding facilities, toilets and other critical infrastructure aimed at creating a more conducive learning environment.

“The Honourable Minister has seen firsthand the progress made by the FCT Administration in improving the quality of education. We will continue to support every initiative of the Federal Ministry of Education to strengthen learning outcomes across the country,” Hayyo said.

He described the National Learning Assessment as a critical step towards raising educational standards and ensuring Nigerian students remain globally competitive.

The nationwide assessment is expected to generate comprehensive data that will guide future education policies, curriculum improvements and targeted interventions designed to enhance learning outcomes in schools across Nigeria.