The Federal Ministry of Education has approved a major policy shift removing Mathematics as a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into Arts and Humanities programmes across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
The announcement, contained in the newly revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, takes immediate effect.
Under the new rule, Mathematics remains mandatory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses, while Arts and Humanities students will now only need English Language and other relevant subjects for admission.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the reform aims to eliminate unnecessary barriers that have denied thousands of students access to higher education despite their academic strength in non-science disciplines.
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According to the ministry, the change could enable up to 300,000 more students to gain admission yearly. The policy also harmonizes entry requirements across universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education, with updated accreditation standards for Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs).
Reactions have been mixed. While many educationists hailed the move as a step toward inclusivity, some critics warned it might reduce analytical depth in certain fields.
The new policy marks one of the boldest education reforms in Nigeria’s recent history and is expected to reshape admission processes nationwide.
