IN a landmark policy shift, the Federal Government has announced that Mathematics will no longer be a compulsory requirement for students seeking admission into tertiary institutions to study courses in the Arts and Humanities.
The Federal Ministry of Education made the announcement on Tuesday, saying the decision was part of a broader reform to eliminate unnecessary barriers to higher education while maintaining academic standards.
For decades, candidates in Arts and Humanities like their counterparts in the Sciences and Social Sciences were required to secure at least five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics, in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
Under the new policy, Mathematics will now be optional for candidates applying to study Arts and Humanities courses, although it remains compulsory for those pursuing Science, Technology, and Social Science programs.
According to a statement by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo obtained by News Point Nigeria, the reform is captured in the Revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions.
The new framework applies across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and innovation enterprise institutions nationwide.
It reads in part: “Universities: Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics is mandatory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.”
“Polytechnics (ND Level): Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programs.”
“Polytechnics (HND Level): Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.”
“Colleges of Education (NCE Level): Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Science courses, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programs.”
The ministry explained that the new framework was introduced to create a more inclusive academic environment and ensure that prospective students are not unfairly denied opportunities to pursue higher education due to rigid subject requirements.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the reform as a deliberate effort to widen access to tertiary education and remove structural bottlenecks that have historically hindered the progress of many young Nigerians.
“This reform is about giving every Nigerian child a fair chance to access quality tertiary education. We have reviewed the national policy to ensure that our admission guidelines reflect equity, relevance, and flexibility,” Alausa said.
He added that the reform aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritizes education as a driver of national development and human capital growth.
He urged tertiary institutions to ensure full compliance with the revised guidelines to make the reform effective.
Before now, the five-credit rule including English and Mathematics had been uniformly applied across all disciplines, regardless of relevance. Critics have long argued that the policy unfairly disadvantaged candidates with strong aptitude in Arts and Humanities but weak in Mathematics.
The new policy takes effect immediately and is expected to influence the upcoming 2025/2026 admission cycle across all Nigerian tertiary institutions.