The Federal Government has removed Mathematics as a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into tertiary institutions to study Arts and Humanities.
This was announced on Tuesday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, during a press briefing in Abuja. The policy change is part of a broader review of entry requirements into Nigerian tertiary institutions, aimed at expanding access to higher education.
“The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are designed to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards,” Alausa said.
According to the new framework, Mathematics will no longer be required for students applying for Arts and Humanities courses in universities and other higher institutions. However, it remains mandatory for candidates pursuing programmes in Science, Technology, and Social Sciences.
The updated guidelines apply to all universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions across the country.
In a statement, the spokesperson of the Federal Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, outlined the new subject requirements as follows:
Universities: Five credit passes in relevant subjects including English Language. Mathematics is required only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
Polytechnics (ND level): Four credits including English for non-science programmes; Mathematics is required for science-related courses.
Polytechnics (HND level): Five credits including English and Mathematics.
Colleges of Education (NCE): Four credit passes with English compulsory for Arts and Social Sciences, while Mathematics is required for Science, Vocational, and Technical courses.
The Minister explained that the reform aims to address the persistent gap between the number of candidates applying for admission and the number who are admitted annually.
Out of more than two million candidates who sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) each year, only about 700,000 gain admission.
“This imbalance is not due to lack of ability but outdated and overly stringent entry requirements.
“The reform is a deliberate effort to expand access, creating opportunities for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students annually," Alausa said.
An education analyst, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, welcomed the policy shift, describing it as a long-overdue step toward making tertiary education more inclusive.
“This reform acknowledges that a credit in Mathematics should not be a barrier for students who do not need it in their field of study,” Oluwatoyin said.
The policy takes immediate effect, and institutions are expected to adjust their admission processes in line with the revised guidelines.
