FG Scraps Mandatory Credit in Mathematics for Arts and Humanities Admissions

The Federal Government has announced a major reform in tertiary education admission requirements, scrapping the compulsory credit pass in Mathematics for students seeking admission into arts and humanities programmes across Nigerian universities and polytechnics.

The development was disclosed in a statement on Tuesday by Folasade Boriowo, spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education. According to the statement, the new policy, contained in the Revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, aims to remove unnecessary barriers to higher education while maintaining academic standards.

“The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are designed to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards,” Boriowo said.

Under the new framework, candidates seeking admission into universities are required to have a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics remains mandatory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.

For polytechnics, the minimum requirement for the National Diploma (ND) level is four credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses, while Mathematics remains compulsory for science-related programmes. At the Higher National Diploma (HND) level, applicants must possess five credit passes, including English Language and Mathematics.

In colleges of education, a minimum of four credit passes in relevant subjects is required, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Science courses, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes.

Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the decision as a strategic move to expand access to tertiary education and promote inclusivity. He said the reform would make education more accessible and flexible, particularly for students whose strengths lie outside mathematics-based disciplines.

“By removing this barrier, we are enabling more students to pursue their passion in arts, languages, social sciences, and creative industries without being hindered by subjects unrelated to their chosen fields,” Alausa stated.

The reform, which applies to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions, marks a significant policy shift expected to benefit thousands of prospective students nationwide, particularly those who excel in arts-related subjects but struggle with mathematics.