FG Revises Admission Policy, Drops Mathematics Requirement for Arts and Humanities Students

The Federal Government has revised Nigeria’s tertiary education admission policy, officially removing Mathematics as a compulsory requirement for candidates seeking admission into arts and humanities programmes.

The decision, detailed in the newly released National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, was announced on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the Ministry, the new policy is designed to broaden access to higher education while upholding academic standards across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions nationwide.

“For years, admission seekers in the arts and humanities, like their counterparts in the sciences and social sciences, have been required to obtain credits in both English Language and Mathematics to qualify for admission into higher institutions,” the Ministry said in a statement signed by its spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo.

Under the revised guidelines, candidates for university admission must still secure a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language. However, Mathematics will now be mandatory only for programmes in the sciences, technology, and social sciences.

At the polytechnic level, candidates seeking admission for National Diploma (ND) programmes must obtain four credit passes, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-based ones. For Higher National Diploma (HND) admission, five credit passes remain compulsory, with both English and Mathematics required.

Similarly, in colleges of education, English Language remains compulsory for Arts and Social Science courses, while Mathematics continues to be required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the policy shift as a strategic step toward removing unnecessary barriers that have limited students’ access to tertiary education.

“This reform reflects our commitment to expanding opportunities for all categories of students while maintaining the integrity and standards of the education system,” Alausa stated.