In a major education policy shift, the Federal Government has announced that mathematics will no longer be a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into arts and humanities programmes in Nigerian tertiary institutions.
This new guideline was announced on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education and is part of a broader reform aimed at increasing access to higher education across the country.
For years, students applying for admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education were required to present at least five credit passes in key subjects, including English Language and Mathematics — regardless of their chosen field. This blanket requirement has now been reviewed to reflect the specific needs of different academic disciplines.
Under the revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, mathematics is now only compulsory for students applying to science, technology, and social science courses. For students in the arts and humanities, a credit in English Language remains mandatory, but mathematics is no longer required.
The spokesperson of the Ministry of Education, Folasade Boriowo, said in an official statement that the reforms apply to all categories of tertiary institutions, including universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions.
Below are the updated admission requirements:
Universities: Minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language. Mathematics is only required for science, technology, and social science programmes.
Polytechnics (ND Level): At least four credit passes in relevant subjects. English is mandatory for non-science programmes, while Mathematics is compulsory for science-based courses.
Polytechnics (HND Level): Minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including both English Language and Mathematics.
Colleges of Education (NCE Level): Four credit passes in relevant subjects. English is compulsory for Arts and Social Science courses, while Mathematics is required for Science, Technical, and Vocational programmes.
Speaking on the new policy, the Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, said the reform is a deliberate move by the government to expand access to tertiary education and ensure fairness in the admission process.
According to him, over two million students sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) each year, but only about 700,000 candidates are offered admission. This, he said, is not because the remaining candidates are unqualified but largely due to outdated and rigid entry requirements.
“Every year, over two million candidates sit for the UTME, yet only about 700,000 gain admission. This imbalance is not due to lack of ability but outdated and overly stringent entry requirements that must give way to fairness and opportunity,” Alausa said.
He noted that the new policy is expected to increase the average number of admissions to one million students per year, creating space for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students annually.
The minister stressed that the reform aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to promote inclusive growth, expand educational opportunities, and reduce the number of out-of-school youth in Nigeria.
“This reform is not just a policy change. It is a commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian youth has a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed. We are putting the Renewed Hope Agenda into action,” he added.
However, some stakeholders have urged caution, warning that lowering subject requirements must not lead to a decline in academic standards.
The Ministry of Education has responded to such concerns by assuring that the reform only removes unnecessary barriers and does not compromise academic quality. It added that institutions will continue to uphold standards by assessing students based on the core subjects relevant to their fields.
The new guidelines are expected to take effect in the next admission cycle.
