FG removes Mathematics requirement for Arts students
The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved a change in the entry requirements for tertiary institutions. Students seeking admission into arts and humanities programmes will no longer be required to have a credit in Mathematics in the Senior School Certificate Examination. This requirement applies to SSCE results from both WAEC and NECO.
The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions were released by the Federal Ministry of Education. The new framework specifies that students applying for arts and humanities courses need five credit passes in relevant subjects including English Language, obtained in no more than two sittings. Mathematics will remain mandatory only for science, technology, and social science related courses.
For polytechnics at the National Diploma (ND) level, the requirement is four credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses. Mathematics will only be mandatory for science-related programmes. For Higher National Diploma (HND) levels, the guideline still mandates five credits which include both English Language and Mathematics.
Colleges of Education, including Innovation Enterprise Academies, are also covered by the new policy. For arts and social science courses in those institutions, English Language is mandatory, while Mathematics is required only for science, technical, and vocational programmes.
The Education Minister, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, described the policy change as part of broader efforts to remove barriers that have prevented many students from accessing tertiary education. He emphasized that the reform will increase inclusion while keeping academic standards intact.
Education analysts and stakeholders have largely welcomed the move. They see it as a positive step toward reducing pressure on students who excel in non-mathematical disciplines but have struggled with Mathematics. It is expected to open doors for many arts and humanities students who may have been disadvantaged by the old rules.
There are concerns, however, about how this change will affect the quality of general education and students’ readiness for subjects that may require logical or quantitative reasoning even in arts disciplines. Some argue that removing Mathematics could lessen the interdisciplinary strength of arts education.
The reform takes effect immediately across all relevant institutions. Students planning admission for arts and humanities courses should check with the specific university or polytechnic for detailed subject requirements, but will generally no longer need Mathematics credit in SSCE as a condition.
