By peace Udugba
The Federal Ministry of Education has announced a major policy shift affecting senior secondary school students in Nigeria. According to the new directive, students in the arts and humanities streams will no longer be required to have a credit pass in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) — conducted by WAEC and NECO — as a prerequisite for admission into universities and polytechnics.
Until now, students across all disciplines — sciences, social sciences, arts, and humanities — were mandated to obtain at least five credit passes, including Mathematics and English Language, to qualify for admission into tertiary institutions.
This new policy removes Mathematics as a compulsory subject for admission into arts and humanities programmes, thereby easing access to higher education for students in those fields.
The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are designed to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards.
The change is expected to benefit thousands of students who have struggled with Mathematics despite excelling in their core humanities subjects.
FG Introduces AI, Robotics, Journalism in New Curriculum, Eases Maths Requirement for Arts and Humanities*
The Federal Government has introduced key reforms to Nigeria’s secondary and tertiary education system, including the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Robotics, and Journalism into the new national curriculum. The changes aim to modernize learning and broaden opportunities for students across various disciplines.
In a sweeping revision of entry requirements, the Ministry of Education announced that Mathematics will no longer be compulsory for students seeking admission into Arts and Humanities programmes. However, it remains mandatory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
According to a circular signed by ministry spokesperson Folasade Boriowo, the updated guidelines apply to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions nationwide.
– Universities: Minimum of five credit passes including English Language, with Mathematics required only for science and technology-based courses.
– Polytechnics (ND level): At least four credit passes, with Mathematics mandatory only for science and technology fields.
Colleges of Education: Four credits in relevant subjects; English Language is compulsory for Arts and Social Sciences, while Mathematics is required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the reform is part of a broader national strategy to remove systemic barriers and promote inclusive access to higher education.
Reacting to the development, education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin commended the government, calling the policy “a brilliant reform” that will ease the path to higher education for many students.
