The Federal Government has announced that senior secondary school students in the Arts and Humanities will no longer be required to present a credit in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) — conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO) — as a prerequisite for admission into universities and polytechnics.
For years, all admission seekers, regardless of discipline, were required to secure five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, to qualify for entry into higher institutions.
However, under the newly revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, the Ministry of Education has reviewed this policy to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards.
According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, the new framework applies to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies nationwide. The revised entry criteria are as follows:
Universities: A minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics remains compulsory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
Polytechnics (ND Level): A minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science programs and Mathematics for science-related ones.
Polytechnics (HND Level): A minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
Colleges of Education (NCE Level): A minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Science courses, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programs.
Education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, speaking in Abuja, praised the development as a step in the right direction, noting that it would make tertiary education more accessible.
“This is a brilliant reform that will open doors and ease the process of gaining admission for many qualified students who were previously hindered by Mathematics requirements,” Oluwatoyin said.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the reform as part of the government’s deliberate efforts to expand access to higher education and promote inclusivity.
He revealed that the ministry has also approved a comprehensive overhaul of admission entry requirements across all tertiary institutions in the country — a move expected to increase annual admissions from about 700,000 to one million students.
“Every year, over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), yet only about 700,000 gain admission. This imbalance is not due to lack of merit but outdated and overly rigid entry requirements,” Alausa said.
He added that the reform aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, ensuring fairness and expanded opportunities for Nigerian youths.
“This reform is a deliberate effort to open up tertiary education for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students annually. It reflects our commitment to ensuring every young Nigerian has a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed,” he concluded.
The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions mark one of the most significant education policy shifts in decades, aimed at breaking long-standing barriers to learning while upholding academic integrity.
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