In a landmark policy shift set to reshape university admissions, the Federal Government has dropped Mathematics as a mandatory subject for students seeking to pursue arts programmes in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The reform, widely regarded as one of the most significant in recent years, will remove rigid academic barriers that have long limited access to higher education for thousands of creative and liberal arts students across the country.
According to the new guidelines, Mathematics will no longer be required for candidates applying to study courses in the arts and humanities at universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Instead, emphasis will now be placed on credit passes in core and relevant subjects within each discipline.
The change, which was formally announced on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education through its spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, represents a departure from Nigeria’s long-standing admission policy that made both English and Mathematics compulsory for all applicants to tertiary institutions.
“This reform is designed to remove unnecessary academic obstacles while maintaining quality standards,” Boriowo explained.
“Mathematics remains compulsory for science, technology, and social science students, but not for those in the arts and humanities.”
Under the updated framework, university admission seekers must now possess at least five credit passes, including English Language, in relevant subjects obtained in not more than two sittings.
For polytechnics, candidates for National Diploma (ND) programmes are expected to present four credits, while those advancing to Higher National Diploma (HND) level must still include both English and Mathematics among their five credits.
Similarly, applicants to Colleges of Education will require a minimum of four credits, with English mandatory for arts and social sciences, and Mathematics only compulsory for science, vocational, and technical courses.
Minister of State for Education, Tunji Alausa, said the move aligns with the government’s broader effort to promote inclusivity and equity in the education system.
“We’re tailoring admission requirements to the realities of each field,” Alausa said. “Students who excel in the arts should not be denied opportunities simply because they struggle with Mathematics.”
Furthermore, the revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are to take immediate effect, covering all public and private institutions nationwide.
