FG Drops Mathematics Credit Requirement for Arts, Humanities Students
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The Federal Ministry of Education has announced that a credit pass in Mathematics will no longer be compulsory for students seeking admission into arts and humanities programmes in Nigerian universities and polytechnics.
The new directive was contained in a statement issued on Tuesday in Abuja by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo.
For years, admission seekers in arts and humanities were required to secure at least five credits — including Mathematics and English Language — to gain admission into higher institutions.
According to the Ministry, the decision follows the revision of the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, aimed at removing unnecessary barriers to access while maintaining academic standards.
“The revised guidelines are designed to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards,” the statement read.
It added: “For universities, a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings, will now suffice. Mathematics remains mandatory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.”
For polytechnics, Mathematics will be compulsory only for science-related programmes at the National Diploma (ND) level, while English Language will be mandatory for non-science courses. At the Higher National Diploma (HND) level, both English and Mathematics remain compulsory.
In colleges of education, English Language will be required for Arts and Social Science courses, while Mathematics will apply to Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the policy change as a deliberate step to expand access to tertiary education and align admission requirements with global best practices.
“This reform is about inclusion and fairness. It acknowledges that academic excellence goes beyond rigid subject requirements and should encourage more students to pursue higher education,” Alausa said.
