The Federal Government has approved a major change in tertiary admission requirements, declaring that senior secondary school students in the arts and humanities will no longer be required to obtain a credit pass in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) as a condition for university or polytechnic admission.
The policy shift, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education in a circular issued on Tuesday, applies to results from both the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
According to the ministry, the revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions were designed to “remove unnecessary barriers while maintaining academic standards.”
Under the new framework — which covers universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies — Mathematics is now mandatory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses, while English Language remains compulsory across all disciplines.
The statement, signed by Folasade Boriowo, spokesperson of the ministry, outlined the updated requirements as follows:
Universities: A minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics is compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses only.
Polytechnics (ND Level): At least four credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programmes.
Polytechnics (HND Level): A minimum of five credit passes, including both English Language and Mathematics.
Colleges of Education (NCE Level): At least four credit passes in relevant subjects, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Sciences, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes.
Reacting to the development, education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin lauded the reform, describing it as “a progressive step toward inclusivity and easier access to higher education.”
“This is a brilliant reform that will open the doors for many prospective students who have been held back by the Mathematics barrier,” he said.
The new policy is expected to take effect immediately and will guide all tertiary institutions during their next admission cycle.
