(DDM) – The Federal Government has announced a revised set of requirements for admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria, aiming to broaden access to higher education.
Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that the Ministry of Education revealed the new policy on Tuesday, which allows candidates applying for non-science courses to gain admission without a credit pass in mathematics.
The updated guidelines cover universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and innovation enterprise academies nationwide, reflecting a nationwide effort to reduce exclusion caused by rigid entry criteria.
Under the new rules, university applicants must obtain at least five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English, in no more than two sittings.
Mathematics remains mandatory only for students applying for science, technology, and social science courses.
For polytechnic admissions, candidates must have a minimum of four credit passes, including English, for non-science courses, while mathematics is required for all science-related programmes.
Candidates seeking admission into colleges of education at the NCE level must also secure at least four credit passes.
English is mandatory for arts and social science courses, while mathematics is required for science, vocational, and technical studies.
At higher levels, including HND and B.Ed programmes, five credit passes are necessary, with English and mathematics required depending on the chosen field of study.
The policy also affects innovation enterprise academies, directing them to adopt the same minimum entry standard as polytechnics for National Diploma programmes.
The National Innovation Diploma (NID) has been scrapped, consolidating standards across tertiary institutions to ensure consistency and quality.
The Ministry explained that the changes are designed to expand opportunities for students who previously missed out on admissions due to overly strict requirements, particularly in non-science disciplines.
Education analysts note that the policy could increase university enrolment, particularly in humanities and arts programmes, while still maintaining standards for science and technical courses.
The move is expected to reduce the annual number of qualified candidates turned away from institutions, addressing long-standing complaints about access to higher education in Nigeria.
Officials said the revised policy aligns with broader national goals of promoting literacy, skill acquisition, and innovation while ensuring equitable access to tertiary education.
Stakeholders, including school administrators, parents, and students, have largely welcomed the decision, though some caution that institutions must maintain quality alongside expanded access.
The Ministry of Education has pledged ongoing monitoring of the implementation of the new guidelines to ensure smooth adaptation across all public and private tertiary institutions.