The Federal Government has officially removed Mathematics as a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into universities and other tertiary institutions to study courses in the Arts and Humanities.
The decision, announced by the Federal Ministry of Education, marks a major shift from the long-standing policy that required all admission seekers — regardless of discipline — to obtain credit passes in both English Language and Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination.
According to the Ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, the change is part of the newly revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions. The goal, she said, is to remove unnecessary barriers to higher education while maintaining academic standards.
Under the new framework, Mathematics will now be compulsory only for students applying to study Science, Technology, or Social Science-related courses. For Arts and Humanities students, a credit in English Language and other relevant subjects will be sufficient for admission.
The new guidelines apply to all universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions across the country.
For Universities, candidates will now need at least five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in no more than two sittings. Mathematics remains compulsory only for science-based and social science programmes.
At the Polytechnic level, entry into National Diploma (ND), programmes requires a minimum of four credit passes, with Mathematics compulsory for science courses and English Language mandatory for others. For Higher National Diploma (HND) admissions, candidates must have five credits, including English and Mathematics.
At Colleges of Education (NCE Level), students will also need four credits in relevant subjects. English Language is compulsory for Arts and Social Science courses, while Mathematics is only required for Science, Vocational, and Technical fields.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the reform is part of the government’s broader effort to widen access to tertiary education and give more young Nigerians an opportunity to pursue higher learning in their chosen fields without unnecessary restrictions.
He added that while academic standards remain intact, the new rule recognizes that Mathematics may not be essential for success in certain disciplines such as Fine Arts, Theatre Arts, History, or Linguistics.
The new guidelines take immediate effect and are expected to be reflected in future admission processes conducted by tertiary institutions across the country.
