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Summary
The Federal Government has removed Mathematics as a compulsory requirement for students seeking admission into Arts and Humanities courses. This policy aimed to expand access to admission for students, promoting inclusivity and creativity.
In the newly revised admission guidelines for Nigerian institutions, the Federal Government has removed Mathematics as a compulsory requirement for students seeking admission into Arts and Humanities courses. This new policy was issued by the Ministry of Education spokesperson, Dr Folasade Boriowo, on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, in Abuja.
This new reform also extends to Nigerian Secondary School students in Arts and Humanities, as they will no longer be required to have a credit in Mathematics as a compulsory requirement for admission into tertiary institutions.
For years, all admission seekers have been mandated to have five credits, including Mathematics and English Language, to secure admission into higher institutions.
The new policy is to increase access and support for those students whose strength is visible in the Arts, thereby promoting inclusivity and creativity in education. The policy is estimated to create 250,000 to 300,000 additional admission slots annually, reduce the number of out-of-school youths and strengthen vocational and technical education.
The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Alausa stressed that the reform is a deliberate step to eliminate unnecessary barriers in tertiary education access. It’s also aimed at eradicating years of limited admission access to qualified students who are unable to meet the required standards. JAMB and NUC are expected to update admission guidelines, while schools and counsellors adjust subject advice to reflect the new policy.
The new policy applies to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies nationwide.
Universities: Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics is mandatory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
“Polytechnics (ND Level): Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programmes.
“Polytechnics (HND Level): Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics.
“Colleges of Education (NCE Level): Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Science courses, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programs,” part of the policy reads.
