The Federal Government has removed the compulsory credit pass in Mathematics for students seeking admission into arts and humanities programmes in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The Federal Ministry of Education announced the policy change on Tuesday, stating that the new rule applies to the West African Examination Council (WAEC) and National Examination Council (NECO) results used for university and polytechnic admissions.
Previously, all admission seekers were required to have at least five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, regardless of their field of study. The ministry said the updated entry requirements are part of efforts to remove unnecessary barriers while maintaining academic standards.
According to a statement by ministry spokesperson Folasade Boriowo, the new guidelines apply to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutes nationwide.
For universities, candidates must have a minimum of five credits in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in no more than two sittings. Mathematics remains mandatory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
At the National Diploma (ND) level, polytechnics will require four credit passes, including English for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programmes. For Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions, both English and Mathematics are compulsory. Colleges of education will require four credits, with English mandatory for Arts and Social Sciences, and Mathematics for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the reform aims to expand access to tertiary education and address long-standing admission constraints. He noted that despite over two million candidates sitting for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, only about 700,000 gain admission due to outdated requirements.
“The reform is a deliberate effort to expand access to tertiary education, creating opportunities for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students each year,” Alausa said. “It reflects our commitment to ensuring every Nigerian youth has a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed.”
Education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin praised the move, describing it as a welcome step that would ease admission challenges and promote inclusivity in higher education.
