The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board, Professor Ishaq Oloyede, has condemned Colleges of Education in the country that make mathematics a compulsory requirement for students of the faculty of humanities.

The registrar made this known on Tuesday, 23 February at a three-day summit on the repositioning of the Colleges of Education System in Nigeria, held in Abuja. He also warned the Provosts of Colleges of Education against the conduct of illegal admissions.

According to Ishaq, such a requirement is absolutely unnecessary, considering the fact that before enrolling in a higher institution, the student must have acquired knowledge of basic Mathematics at the primary and secondary levels of education.

He, however, said this does not mean that JAMB would not require Mathematics as a condition for candidates sitting for Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) except the law is changed.

He further expressed concern about the low turnout of students that apply to Colleges of Education, stating that it was an issue that needs to be urgently addressed. Ishaq proposed that the colleges remove the stringent requirements placed on candidates seeking admission to allow room for more entries.