FG Says Mathematics No Longer Compulsory for Arts Students – 2025 Admission Reform
The Federal Government of Nigeria has officially announced a major change in admission policy, stating that Mathematics is no longer a compulsory requirement for students in the Arts and Humanities when applying for admission into Nigerian tertiary institutions.
This update was confirmed on Tuesday by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, who noted that the reform aims to expand access to higher education and eliminate unnecessary barriers for admission seekers across the country.
New Admission Guidelines for Tertiary Institutions
According to a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Education’s spokesperson, Mrs. Folasade Boriowo, the Revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions have been approved to improve fairness and inclusivity while maintaining academic standards.
Below is the new framework as approved by the ministry:
- Universities: Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics is now only compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
- Polytechnics (ND Level): Minimum 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 only for Science, Vocational, and Technical programs.
What This Means for Admission Seekers
With this reform, candidates pursuing Arts and Humanities courses, such as Law, English, History, Linguistics, Theatre Arts, and Mass Communication—will no longer be required to have a credit in Mathematics in their WAEC or NECO results to gain admission.
This marks a significant shift from the long-standing policy that mandated both English and Mathematics as compulsory subjects for all tertiary institution admissions in Nigeria.
Experts and Analysts React
Education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin praised the policy, calling it a “brilliant reform” that will open more opportunities for admission seekers who have struggled with Mathematics despite excelling in other core Arts subjects.
“This reform will improve access and make tertiary education more inclusive. It’s a long-overdue policy change,” he said in an interview with reporters in Abuja.
Minister of Education Speaks on the Reform
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, emphasized that the reform is part of the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda aimed at giving every Nigerian youth a fair chance to pursue higher education.
He explained that the new admission framework is designed to increase the annual intake of students from about 700,000 to over 1 million across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
“Every year, over two million candidates sit for UTME, yet only about 700,000 gain admission. This imbalance is not due to lack of ability but due to outdated entry requirements that must give way to fairness and opportunity,” Dr. Alausa stated.
According to him, the reform will help create opportunities for an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students each year, ensuring that more qualified candidates can secure admission into Nigerian universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education.
Summary of Key Changes
- Mathematics no longer compulsory for Arts and Humanities students.
- English Language remains compulsory for all courses.
- Revised entry framework applies to Universities, Polytechnics, and Colleges of Education.
- Policy aims to expand access and increase annual tertiary admissions to one million.
- Part of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda in education reform.
Conclusion
The removal of Mathematics as a compulsory subject for Arts students marks a progressive shift in Nigeria’s education system. The Federal Ministry of Education hopes this reform will reduce admission rejection rates and promote inclusivity for students with strong abilities in Arts and Humanities.
Prospective candidates are advised to check official updates from the WAEC, NECO, and JAMB websites for detailed subject combinations and course requirements under the new guideline.
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Kolade Kayode, known as Mr. KK, I am a Nigerian education blogger and founder of MasterWAEC.com. Passionate about student success, I simplifies WAEC exam preparation with accurate tips and resources to help students excel.
