The Federal Ministry of Education has announced that senior secondary school students in the arts and humanities will no longer need a credit in mathematics to gain admission into Nigerian universities and polytechnics. The decision applies to candidates writing the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) exams.
For decades, all admission seekers regardless of field were required to have at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, to qualify for higher education. However, the ministry said the new policy aims to remove unnecessary barriers while maintaining academic standards.
According to a statement by the ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, the revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions will apply to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies. Mathematics will remain compulsory only for students pursuing science, technology, and social science programs.
Under the new framework, universities will require five credits, including English, in relevant subjects for admission, while polytechnics and colleges of education will require four or five, depending on the program. English remains mandatory across all institutions, but mathematics will now only be required for science-related courses.
Education Minister, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the reform as a deliberate move to expand access to tertiary education. Education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin praised the change, calling it “a brilliant reform that will open more doors and make admission easier for thousands of students in the arts and humanities.”