Wednesday, 18 February 2026

Abia rolls out digital learner ID system to overhaul education tracking

Abia State has rolled out a digital learner tracking framework as part of efforts to strengthen education data management and improve oversight across schools. The reform combines a centralised Education Management and Information System (EMIS) with a unique learner identification scheme known as the Abia State Basic Learning Identity Number (ABSLIN).

The initiative was disclosed by the Commissioner for Basic and Secondary Education, Goodluck Ubochi, following a State Executive Council meeting in Umuahia. Under the new system, every child enrolled in basic and secondary education in the state will be assigned a unique identification number that remains with the learner from entry until completion of basic education, enabling authorities to track academic progress and school transfers.

According to Ubochi, unregulated movement of pupils between public and private schools has long disrupted record-keeping. With ABSLIN, the Ministry of Education will oversee and regulate such transfers, ensuring continuity of learning records. The EMIS platform will serve as a central warehouse for education data, supporting better planning, monitoring, and policy decisions.

The state also provided updates on staffing and inclusion programmes. In the second phase of its teacher recruitment exercise, Abia received 36,415 applications, with 24,023 candidates shortlisted for a computer-based test. The government has already employed 5,394 teachers and plans to recruit an additional 4,000. The Mass Literacy, Adult and Non-Formal Education Programme for the 2025-2026 academic session has resumed across all local governments, alongside a sensitisation campaign targeting school dropouts, traders, and artisans.

Officials noted that Abia recently emerged as the overall best performer at the National Basic Education School Sports Games, winning eight gold medals, and has ranked first in NECO examinations for three consecutive years. The state’s move aligns with a broader national shift toward data-driven education governance, with similar digital systems already deployed in Kaduna and Katsina states, and ongoing federal efforts to establish a national education databank and repository.

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