FG removes mathematics as compulsory subject for Arts students seeking university admission

The Federal Government has announced that Mathematics will no longer be a compulsory requirement for Nigerian senior secondary school students in the Arts and Humanities seeking admission into universities and polytechnics.

The policy change, disclosed on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education (FME), means that students in these fields will no longer need to present a credit in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by WAEC or NECO as a prerequisite for tertiary admission.

For decades, admission seekers across all disciplines—Arts, Sciences, and Social Sciences—were required to obtain at least five credits including English Language and Mathematics to qualify for admission into higher institutions.

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According to the Ministry, the revision is part of the new National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, designed to remove unnecessary barriers to access while maintaining academic standards.

The statement issued by FME spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, outlined the new framework as follows:

Universities: Minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, in not more than two sittings. Mathematics remains compulsory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.

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Polytechnics (ND Level): Minimum of four credit passes, including English Language for non-science courses, and Mathematics for science-related programs.

Polytechnics (HND Level): Minimum of five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics.

Colleges of Education (NCE Level): Minimum of four credit passes, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Science courses, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programs.

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Education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin welcomed the move, describing it as a “brilliant reform” that would “improve access to tertiary education and ease the admission process for more students.”

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the reform represents a deliberate effort to expand access to tertiary education and align admission policies with the evolving needs of the Nigerian education system.

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