The Federal Ministry of Education announced on Tuesday that senior secondary school students in the arts and humanities in Nigeria will no longer need to demonstrate a mathematical credit in their Senior School Certificate Examination, which is administered by the National Examination Council and the West African Examination Council, in order to be admitted to universities and polytechnics.
Like their counterparts in the sciences and social sciences, applicants in the arts and humanities have long been required to earn five credits—including English language and mathematics—in order to be admitted to higher education.
Removing obstacles while upholding academic standards is the goal of the updated National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions.
The following is how the new framework is applicable to institutions of education, universities, polytechnics, and Innovation Enterprise Academies nationwide:
“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 statement by the FME’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, said.
Speaking to our correspondent in Abuja, education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin praised the reform.
“This is an excellent reform that we hope will make it easier for more applicants to get into tertiary institutions.”
The reform, according to Education Minister Dr. Tunji Alausa, is a conscious attempt to increase access to postsecondary education.
