FG Removes Mathematics as a Required Admission Subject for Arts Students

Abuja, Nigeria — October 14, 2025

The Federal Government of Nigeria has announced a sweeping reform to the country’s tertiary education admission policy: Mathematics will no longer be a compulsory requirement for students seeking admission into Arts and Humanities programmes.
The policy change was unveiled on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, by the Federal Ministry of Education in Abuja. The announcement was made through a statement by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, under the leadership of Education Minister Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa.
What’s New in the Guidelines
The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions now specify that for Arts and Humanities programmes, students will not need a credit in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE, through WAEC or NECO) to gain admission.
Mathematics remains compulsory for courses in Science, Technology, and Social Science, where the subject is relevant.
Across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies, the requirement for a minimum of five credit passes, including English Language, in relevant subjects still holds for arts candidates. Mathematics is no longer mandatory for them.
For polytechnics (ND level), non-science students need at least four credit passes, including English, while mathematics is required only for science-related programmes.
At the NCE level (for Colleges of Education), Arts and Social Science courses will require English but not Mathematics, whereas Science, Technical and Vocational programmes will continue to require Mathematics.
Why the Change?
According to the Ministry, the reform is motivated by a desire to remove unnecessary barriers and increase access to higher education. They observed that many capable students were being denied admission despite meeting other qualification standards, simply because they did not have credit in Mathematics — even though their intended fields do not require it.
The government hopes the change will enable an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students to gain admission into tertiary institutions annually.
Implications
This policy marks a significant shift in Nigeria’s education admission landscape:
It may ease pressure and stress for students who struggle in Mathematics but excel in other relevant arts-related disciplines.
It could lead to a more diverse cohort in Arts faculties, potentially increasing enrolment from regions or demographics historically underrepresented due to rigid subject requirements.
Tertiary institutions will need to adjust their admission screening and counselling processes to align with the new guidelines.
The reform is effective immediately and applies to all relevant tertiary institutions nationwide.