In a statement, Givan said that the tests would be introduced in the 2025/26 school year for a three-year period and would stop Northern Ireland being an "outlier."
"Literacy and numeracy are the essential foundation of all education," he said.
"Northern Ireland is currently without any measures of how our system is performing in both these areas at primary school and Key Stage 3."
"This is not acceptable and makes us an outlier internationally in being without basic performance data."
"This new approach is designed to provide a clear, evidence-based understanding of how well our pupils are developing essential knowledge and skills in reading, writing and mathematics and will provide an authoritative picture on our national educational performance."
"The findings from the assessments will support curriculum development and teacher professional learning."
The new tests will be created and delivered by the Council for Curriculum, Examinations and Assessment (CCEA) with first taking place in March 2026.