In a landmark policy shift aimed at expanding access to higher education, the Federal Government has announced that Mathematics will no longer be a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into tertiary institutions to study Arts and Humanities-related courses.

 

The new directive, unveiled Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education, is part of the Revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions. It affects entry into universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions across the country.

 

According to a statement signed by ministry spokesperson Folasade Boriowo, the revised guidelines are designed to remove “unnecessary barriers” for students while upholding academic integrity and relevance.

 

“The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions aim to eliminate unnecessary barriers while maintaining academic standards,” the statement read.

 

Under the updated framework, prospective Arts and Humanities students will now only be required to present credit passes in relevant subjects — notably including English Language — while Mathematics will remain mandatory only for students entering Science, Technology, and Social Science programmes.

 

At the polytechnic level, candidates must obtain at least four credit passes, including English for non-science courses, and Mathematics for science-related programmes. Both Mathematics and English will remain compulsory at the Higher National Diploma (HND) level.

 

Similarly, for admissions into Colleges of Education, English will be required for Arts and Social Science courses, while Mathematics remains a prerequisite for Science, Vocational, and Technical courses.

 

Reacting to the policy change, education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin praised the move, describing it as a “brilliant step” that could ease the admission process and widen access for many Nigerian youths.

 

“This reform acknowledges the diverse strengths of students and ensures that those passionate about the arts are not held back by unrelated academic hurdles,” Oluwatoyin said.

 

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized that the reform is part of broader efforts to make tertiary education more inclusive and aligned with students’ career interests.

 

“We are committed to creating a system where every student has a fair chance to pursue their passion without facing irrelevant academic bottlenecks,” Dr. Alausa stated.

 

The new policy is expected to take effect from the 2025/2026 admission cycle.