Government to Implement National Standardized Test for Basic School Students

The government has announced plans to introduce a National Standardized Test (NST) for primary and junior high school students to better prepare them for the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE).

Education Minister Haruna Iddrisu revealed the initiative during a public forum on Monday, February 17, 2025. The standardized test will be conducted for pupils in Primary 2, Primary 4, Primary 6, and JSS 2 to help familiarize them with examination conditions before their final BECE assessments.

According to the minister, the NST is designed to psychologically prepare students for high-stakes exams and improve their overall academic performance.

“We don’t want a situation where a student’s first real examination experience is the BECE itself. That is why we are introducing the National Standardized Test—to help students adapt to exam conditions early,” he explained.

The initiative is expected to enhance assessment standards in basic education and provide insights into students’ progress at different learning stages.

The Ministry of Education is expected to roll out further details regarding the test’s implementation in the coming months.