The Federal Government has announced that Mathematics is no longer a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into tertiary institutions to study Arts and Humanities-related courses.
The Ministry of Education disclosed this on Tuesday, noting that the decision was part of a new policy aimed at removing unnecessary barriers and expanding access to higher education for Nigerian students.
In a statement issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, the government explained that the revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions would take immediate effect across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies.
According to the statement, universities will now require a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings, while Mathematics remains mandatory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
For polytechnics, the statement added that candidates seeking admission at the National Diploma level must have four credit passes, including English Language for non-science programmes and Mathematics for science-related fields. At the Higher National Diploma level, both English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory.
It further clarified that for Colleges of Education, candidates are expected to present four credit passes in relevant subjects, with English Language compulsory for Arts and Social Science programmes, while Mathematics is required for Science, Vocational, and Technical courses.
Commenting on the development, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the reform was a deliberate effort to make tertiary education more inclusive.
“This reform is designed to remove unnecessary bottlenecks in our education system while maintaining academic standards. We want to ensure that every Nigerian child has a fair opportunity to pursue higher education without undue limitations,” the minister said.
An education analyst, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, described the move as timely and commendable, noting that it would “open the doors for more admission seekers, especially those in the Arts and Humanities who have struggled with Mathematics as a barrier.”
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