The Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, has expressed concern that strict entry requirements into Nigerian tertiary institutions are contributing to a growing population of out-of-school adolescents, describing the trend as a serious national risk.
Speaking in Abuja at the launch of the Federal Government Tertiary Institution Governance and Transparency Platform (FTIGTP), Alausa noted that limited admission spaces and restrictive guidelines have left many qualified youths unable to gain entry into universities, polytechnics, and colleges. He stated that while over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, only about 700,000 secure admission.
He explained that the situation has pushed many young people into frustration, idleness, and street life, which he said poses long-term social and economic challenges.
To address the issue, the Minister announced that the Federal Government has revised the entry requirements for tertiary institutions. Under the new framework, Mathematics will no longer be compulsory for arts-based programs, while English will no longer be mandatory for some science-related courses. In addition, the required number of credit passes for admission into colleges of education and polytechnics has been reduced from five to four. However, students will still be required to register and sit for both Mathematics and English during their studies.
Alausa said the reforms are intended to expand access, promote inclusivity, and align Nigeria’s education system with global best practices, while maintaining academic standards.
Meanwhile, the Nigerian Mathematical Society has urged the Federal Government to reconsider the new policy. The Society’s President, Professor Godwin Mbah, warned that removing Mathematics as a compulsory requirement for certain fields may weaken students’ analytical capacity, reduce academic performance, and negatively affect national development. He argued that Mathematics remains central to reasoning and critical thinking, even in arts and humanities disciplines.
Mbah maintained that the decision could lower educational standards and discourage students from engaging seriously with Mathematics, ultimately weakening the country’s competitiveness in a knowledge-driven global economy.
He called on policymakers to uphold Mathematics as a mandatory requirement across all disciplines to preserve educational integrity and support long-term national growth.
