The Federal Government has declared June 29 to July 3, 2026, as National Learning Assessment (NLA) Week, paving the way for Nigeria’s first nationwide assessment of what pupils and students are learning in classrooms across the country.
The assessment, which will be conducted in all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), is expected to generate reliable data on learners’ achievement levels and provide evidence to guide education planning, policy reforms, resource allocation and interventions aimed at improving learning outcomes.
According to the Federal Ministry of Education, the exercise is purely diagnostic and will not be used to determine promotion, placement or certification of learners.
Preparations for the exercise began in 2025 through a partnership involving the Federal Ministry of Education, the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), UNICEF and the World Bank. The Ministry said assessment instruments have been developed, pilot-tested and validated, while personnel have been trained to ensure the smooth conduct of the exercise.
The assessment will be carried out in sampled schools nationwide and will cover pupils in Primary Three and Primary Five, as well as students in Junior Secondary School Two (JS2) and Senior Secondary School Two (SS2).
Learners will be assessed in English Language, Mathematics, Basic Science and Technology, and Citizenship and Heritage Studies.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a major step toward strengthening accountability in Nigeria’s education sector through evidence-based decision-making.
He said the assessment would provide policymakers with credible information on students’ learning outcomes, helping governments at all levels identify gaps, target investments more effectively and implement reforms that improve the quality of education across the country.
The Ministry urged state governments, school administrators, teachers, parents and other stakeholders to support the exercise, noting that the findings would serve as a benchmark for measuring learning outcomes and tracking progress in Nigeria’s basic and secondary education system.
