The Federal Government has officially removed Mathematics as a compulsory subject for students in the Arts and Humanities seeking admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions. This major policy shift means that Senior Secondary School students pursuing arts-related courses will no longer need to secure a credit pass in Mathematics in their WAEC or NECO examinations before gaining admission into universities or polytechnics.
The announcement was made on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education through its spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, who explained that the decision was part of the newly revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions. The ministry stated that the reform aims to remove unnecessary barriers to higher education while maintaining the countryโs academic standards.
According to the new guidelines, Mathematics remains a compulsory requirement for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses, while English Language remains mandatory across all disciplines. For Arts and Humanities students, only relevant subjects to their chosen field will now be required alongside English.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the move as a deliberate effort to expand access to tertiary education and create a more inclusive academic environment.
โThis reform is about giving every student a fair opportunity to pursue higher education in their area of strength. Itโs part of our commitment to making the education system more flexible and responsive to studentsโ diverse talents and interests,โ Dr. Alausa said.
An education analyst, Ayodamola Oluwatoyin, also praised the policy, calling it a step in the right direction. โThis is a brilliant reform that will open the doors wider for admission seekers. For years, many bright arts students have been hindered by Mathematics, even when it had no relevance to their intended courses. This change will definitely ease access to higher education,โ he said.
The reform applies across all universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and innovation enterprise institutions nationwide, signaling what many believe is a new era of flexibility and fairness in Nigeriaโs education system.
