The Federal Government has officially removed Mathematics as a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into tertiary institutions to study Arts and Humanities-related courses.
The new directive, announced on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education, applies to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions across the country.
According to a statement issued by the ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, the decision is part of the revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, aimed at eliminating unnecessary barriers while maintaining academic standards.
“The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are designed to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards,” the statement read.
The new framework outlines subject requirements for each level of tertiary education as follows:
“Universities: Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics is mandatory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
“Polytechnics (ND Level): lMinimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programs.
“Polytechnics (HND Level): Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
“Colleges of Education (NCE Level): 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 programs,” the statement added.
The move is expected to ease entry for prospective students in the Arts and Humanities while maintaining clear academic benchmarks across Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
