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 in Nigerian universities and polytechnics.
This development was contained in a statement issued 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 — is designed to remove unnecessary barriers to higher education while maintaining academic standards across all tertiary institutions.
“The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are designed to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards,” Boriowo stated.
Under the new framework, the ministry outlined the following key changes:• Universities: A minimum of five (5) 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.•Polytechnics (ND Level): A minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses, while Mathematics remains compulsory for science-related programmes.•Polytechnics (HND Level): A minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.•
Colleges of Education (NCE Level): A minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Science courses, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, explained that the decision to scrap compulsory Mathematics for arts and humanities admissions was a strategic move to expand access to tertiary education and promote inclusivity.
“This reform is part of the Federal Government’s effort to make education more accessible and flexible, especially for students whose strengths lie outside mathematics-based disciplines,” Dr. Alausa said.
He noted that the new policy aligns with the government’s broader goal of creating an education system that recognises diverse talents and learning pathways.
“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,” the minister added.
For decades, admission seekers in arts and humanities — like their counterparts in sciences and social sciences — were required to obtain credit passes in both English and Mathematics to qualify for university or polytechnic admission.
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.
