Скачать или смотреть Nigeria's Examination Revolution: Three national exams to rescue a generation?

Currently, over 18 million Nigerian children are out of school—the highest number in the world, according to UNICEF’s latest data for 2024–2025. That’s nearly one in every five school-age kids roaming the streets, hawking, or trapped at home… robbed of their future by poverty, insecurity, early marriage, and crumbling infrastructure. A national crisis that fuels inequality and holds an entire generation back.

Yet in one bold session, the Senate just fired the starting gun on change.

First: Every single Nigerian child—public, private, rich or poor—must now sit for three national exams.
The National Common Entrance (NCEE), Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE), and the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE) are now compulsory. No loopholes. This creates one unbreakable national standard, forces accountability on every school, and shines a spotlight on the millions currently invisible to the system. Supporters say it’s the first step to tracking, tracing, and bringing out-of-school children back into classrooms.

Second: The new National Board for Arabic and Islamic Studies—giving formal structure, quality control, and recognition to Islamic education that millions in the North already follow… potentially bridging the gap for kids in Quranic schools who’ve been counted as “out of school.

Third: The Chartered Institute of Training and Development—professionalizing skills training so Nigeria builds a workforce ready for tomorrow. Soon, every trainer, coach, and capacity-building program will need its seal of approval. This means higher standards for corporate training, vocational skills, and leadership development —positioning Nigeria to compete in a global knowledge economy.

But here is the real deal: these aren’t laws yet.
The bills now head to the House of Representatives for debate, then to the President’s desk for assent. If signed, the hard part begins: massive enrollment drives, free exam registration, teacher recruitment, school upgrades, and real enforcement across 36 states.

For the first time, Nigeria could finally see every child, measure every child, and reach every child.

Will lawmakers seize this moment—and turn compulsory exams into compulsory opportunity? Can Nigeria's education system absorb this proposed new shift?

One thing is clear: The future of millions of Nigerian children is at stake.

What do you think about this new Bill? Air your opinion in the comments section.

Stay informed & updated by following us across all social platforms @GuardianNigeria

Because what happens next… could rescue a generation.
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