FG to introduce Learner Identification Number for primary school students

The Federal Government has unveiled plans to introduce a Learner Identification Number (LIN) for pupils from the primary school level, in a bid to monitor academic progression and curb the alarming dropout rate across the country.
Minister of Education, Tunji Alausa, disclosed this during an interactive session with journalists in Lagos, noting that the initiative is part of broader reforms to strengthen the education sector and improve transition rates from basic to senior secondary education.
He revealed that Nigeria currently has over 50,000 public primary schools with more than 23 million pupils, yet only slightly above 3 million proceed to junior secondary school in the public system.
“This raises a critical question — where are the nearly 20 million pupils who do not transition into public secondary schools? It is clear that private schools cannot absorb all of them,” he said.
According to the minister, the major challenge remains limited access to education, stressing the urgent need for state governments to invest in building more schools to accommodate the growing number of learners. He added that discussions have already been held with the Nigerian Governors’ Forum on expanding educational infrastructure nationwide.
Alausa explained that the proposed LIN would serve as a unique identifier for every pupil, regardless of school transfers, enabling authorities to track each child’s academic journey.
“With this system, if a child who is expected to be in Junior Secondary School is not found in class, we can trace the reason and take necessary action,” he stated.
The initiative is expected to enhance data-driven planning, accountability, and ultimately ensure that more Nigerian children remain within the education system.