The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday that Nigerian senior secondary school students in the arts and humanities will no longer be required to obtain a credit in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination, conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO), as a prerequisite for admission into universities and polytechnics.
For many years, candidates in the arts and humanities—like their counterparts in the sciences and social sciences—were required to secure five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, to qualify for admission into higher institutions.
“The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are designed to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards.
“The new framework applies to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies across the country as follows:
“Universities: Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics is mandatory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
“Polytechnics (ND Level): Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programs.
“Polytechnics (HND Level):
Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
“Colleges of Education (NCE Level): 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,” a press release statement by the FME’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, said.
Education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, who spoke with The Punch correspondent in Abuja, commended the reform. He described it as an excellent reform that he believe will broaden access and make admission into tertiary institutions easier for more prospective students.
