NIGERIA: FG Removes Mathematics as Compulsory Requirement for Arts Students in Universities

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos

The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive reform of admission requirements into tertiary institutions, removing Mathematics as a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into Arts and Humanities programmes.

The new policy, contained in a statement released by the Federal Ministry of Education on October 13, 2025, forms part of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to expand access to tertiary education and promote inclusive learning across Nigeria.

According to the statement, the reform was driven by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, who said the decision became necessary to address the long-standing imbalance in university admissions that left many qualified candidates unable to secure admission despite their abilities in the arts.

Dr. Alausa stated: “Every year, over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME), yet only about 700,000 gain admission. This imbalance is not due to lack of ability but to outdated and overly stringent entry requirements that must give way to fairness and opportunity.”

Under the new National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian tertiary institutions, Mathematics is now mandatory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses, while English Language remains compulsory for all students.

For universities, the guidelines now stipulate a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. For Arts-related courses, Mathematics is no longer a prerequisite.

The same reform applies to Colleges of Education, where English Language is mandatory for Arts and Social Science programmes, while Mathematics is required only for Science, Vocational, and Technical courses.

Dr. Alausa explained that the decision aligns with global education practices and is intended to promote creativity and inclusivity by allowing students to focus on their areas of strength.

The reform also harmonizes entry requirements across Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) to ensure uniformity and fair access. The National Innovation Diploma (NID) has been abolished and replaced with the National Diploma (ND) to improve credibility and progression opportunities for graduates.

The Ministry said the policy could create between 250,000 and 300,000 additional admission slots annually, strengthen vocational and technical education, and help reduce the number of out-of-school youths.

“This reform reflects the government’s commitment to ensuring that every Nigerian youth has a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed. By harmonizing guidelines, we are reducing barriers, expanding opportunities, and aligning our education system with global standards,” the statement added.