The Federal Government has announced that Mathematics will no longer be a compulsory subject for students in the Arts and Humanities seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The decision was contained in the newly approved National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, released by the Federal Ministry of Education on Tuesday.
According to the statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, the reform is aimed at removing barriers that have over the years hindered admission opportunities for non-science students while maintaining academic standards.
The new framework applies to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions across the country.
Under the revised guideline, candidates seeking admission into universities must possess a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics remains mandatory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
For polytechnics at the National Diploma level, a minimum of four credit passes in relevant subjects is required, with English Language compulsory for non-science courses and Mathematics compulsory for science-related programmes.
At the Higher National Diploma level, candidates must have at least five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics.
For colleges of education at the NCE level, candidates are expected to have a minimum of four credit passes in relevant subjects, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Science courses, while Mathematics is required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the development as a deliberate effort to expand access to tertiary education and ensure inclusiveness in admission policies.
An education analyst, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, who spoke to The Punch in Abuja, commended the reform, noting that it would make the admission process easier for many qualified candidates who had previously been affected by the Mathematics requirement.
He described it as a brilliant move that would open doors for more admission seekers and increase access to higher education in the country.
Further details of the new policy are expected to be released by the ministry in the coming days.
