Nigerian senior secondary school pupils in the arts and humanities will no longer need to achieve a credit in maths in their Senior School Certificate Examination, overseen by the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and the National Examination Council, as a prerequisite for university and polytechnic admission, announced the Federal Ministry of Education on Tuesday.
For many years, aspiring students in arts and humanities, similar to their peers in the sciences and social sciences, were required to possess five credits, which included mathematics and English language, to gain entry into higher education institutions.
“The updated National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are intended to eliminate obstacles while upholding academic integrity.
“The newly established framework pertains to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies nationwide as follows:
“Universities: A minimum of five (5) credits in relevant subjects, including English Language, achieved in not more than two sittings. Mathematics is essential for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
“Polytechnics (ND Level): A minimum of four (4) credits in pertinent subjects, including English Language for non-science programs and Mathematics for science-related fields.
“Polytechnics (HND Level): A minimum of five (5) credits in relevant subjects, inclusive of English Language and Mathematics.
“Colleges of Education (NCE Level): A minimum of four (4) credits in pertinent subjects, mandatory English Language for Arts and Social Science courses, with Mathematics necessary for Science, Vocational, and Technical programs,” stated Folasade Boriowo, the spokesperson for the FME.
Education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin expressed approval of the reform when she spoke with our correspondent in Abuja.
“This is an excellent reform, which we anticipate will facilitate easier admissions to tertiary institutions for more candidates.”
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, referred to the reform as a purposeful initiative to broaden access to higher education.
The ministry has also sanctioned a thorough reform of admission entry criteria across all tertiary institutions nationwide, aiming to boost the yearly intake from about 700,000 to one million students.
The government stated that the new policy aims to widen access to higher education and provide opportunities for an extra 250,000 to 300,000 admissions each year.
The minister clarified that the reform was necessary due to years of restricted access that left many eligible candidates unable to gain admission despite meeting the prerequisites.
Each year, over two million candidates participate in the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), yet onlyaround 700,000 secure admission. This disparity is not a reflection of capability but rather the result of outdated and excessively rigid entry requirements that must yield to fairness and opportunity.
“The vision of the reform is a purposeful endeavor to broaden access to tertiary education, generating opportunities for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students each year. It embodies our commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian youth has a fair opportunity to learn, develop, and thrive bringing the Renewed Hope Agenda to fruition,” he stated.
The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are meant to dissolve barriers while upholding academic standards.