The Federal Ministry of Education has introduced new admission guidelines for universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education across Nigeria, marking a major shift in entry requirements for prospective students.
In a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, the ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, explained that the reform seeks to expand access to higher education and promote fairness in the admission process.
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Under the new policy, students applying for arts and humanities programs will no longer be required to have a credit pass in mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) to qualify for admission into universities and polytechnics.
For university admission, candidates must obtain at least five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, in not more than two sittings. Mathematics remains a compulsory requirement for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
At the National Diploma (ND) level in polytechnics, a minimum of four credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programs, is required. For the Higher National Diploma (HND) level, applicants must have at least five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics.
Similarly, for admission into colleges of education, a minimum of four credit passes in relevant subjects is required, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Science programs, while Mathematics is compulsory for Science, Vocational, and Technical courses.
The reform is expected to increase the average annual tertiary enrollment from about 700,000 to one million students, thereby creating room for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 admissions each year.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the initiative as a deliberate step toward ensuring that every Nigerian youth has a fair opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.
