The Federal Government has introduced new national guidelines for Continuous Assessment (CA), bringing major changes to how secondary schools across Nigeria record, submit and manage students’ academic scores.
The new policy will require both public and government-approved private secondary schools to upload students’ Continuous Assessment records through secure digital platforms linked to the Nigeria Education Data Infrastructure (NEDI).
Under the guidelines, students will also be required to have a National Learner Identity Number (NLIN) linked to their National Identification Number (NIN), creating a centralised record of learners across the country.
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The new system is expected to take effect from the 2026/2027 academic session, with specific nationwide deadlines for submitting Continuous Assessment records. First-term CA results are expected to be uploaded in January, second-term records in April, while third-term records will be submitted in August.
The Federal Government says the measure is designed to improve the integrity of students’ academic records and reduce opportunities for schools or individuals to manipulate CA scores before final examinations.
The new guidelines will also affect examination bodies such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), which are expected to establish secure and interoperable systems for receiving and managing the records.
Another major provision concerns students who transfer from one school to another. Transfers will have to be processed through the digital system, with the receiving school required to accept or reject the request.
Importantly, a student’s Continuous Assessment record will remain attached to the learner rather than the school. Previous CA records are therefore expected to follow students when they transfer, preventing schools from deleting or altering their academic history.
Schools that violate the guidelines could face serious sanctions, including suspension or blacklisting. Offences listed in the guidelines include examination malpractice, failure to comply with registration requirements, misrepresentation of learners and fraudulent submission of Continuous Assessment records.
A suspended school could also have its CA portal blocked, while affected students may be transferred to other accredited schools or approved examination centres to ensure they are not disadvantaged.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the reforms form part of the Federal Government’s broader effort to strengthen Nigeria’s education system and make it more competitive internationally.
The Federal Ministry of Education will monitor implementation through its Basic and Senior Secondary Departments, while the guidelines are expected to be reviewed after one year to determine whether adjustments are necessary.
For parents and students, the new system could mean that academic records accumulated throughout secondary school will become more centralised, traceable and difficult to manipulate.
BwariTimes will continue to monitor how the new policy will affect secondary schools, students and parents in Bwari and across the FCT. Follow today on Facebook for updates.
