The Federal Government has reaffirmed that Mathematics remains a compulsory subject for admission into science, technology, and social science programmes across Nigerian tertiary institutions.
However, the government announced a significant revision to entry requirements — removing the compulsory credit pass in Mathematics for students seeking admission into arts and humanities-related programmes.
This policy clarification was issued by the Federal Ministry of Education following the recent approval of the revised Minimum Admission Requirements for tertiary institutions in the country.
New Guidelines Explained
According to the updated framework:
* For university admissions, candidates are now required to have a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language. A credit pass in Mathematics is only required for those applying to science-based or social science disciplines.
* At the National Diploma (ND) level in polytechnics, non-science courses require four credit passes, including English, with Mathematics no longer mandatory for arts or management-related courses.
* For Higher National Diploma (HND) admission, a Mathematics credit remains compulsory, reflecting the technical nature of the programmes.
* In colleges of education, the new policy requires a credit in English for arts and social science courses, while Mathematics remains compulsory for science, technical, and vocational education programmes.
Government’s Justification
Minister of State for Education, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu, explained that the revised guidelines are part of ongoing efforts to broaden access to tertiary education and eliminate unnecessary barriers to university and college admissions — especially for students pursuing non-technical disciplines.
“We identified that many qualified candidates, particularly in the arts and humanities, were being denied admission solely due to their inability to obtain a credit in Mathematics,” Dr. Sununu stated.
He added that the new policy aligns with global best practices, ensuring that admission requirements are tailored to the academic demands of specific disciplines.
Impact on Admissions
Data from the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) indicates that over 2 million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, with less than 40% gaining admission.
Education analysts have long cited rigid subject requirements — particularly the blanket inclusion of Mathematics — as a major impediment for students in the humanities and creative arts.
The revised guidelines are expected to increase admission opportunities for candidates who meet all other criteria but fall short in Mathematics, especially those targeting programmes such as Literature, History, Theatre Arts, Languages, Mass Communication, Philosophy, and Religious Studies.
Institutions to Implement Immediately
The Federal Ministry of Education directed all tertiary institutions — including universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education — to commence immediate implementation of the new guidelines.
Admissions officers and regulatory bodies are expected to update their systems accordingly to reflect the changes.
JAMB and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) have also been directed to align their admission processes with the revised policy.
Mathematics Still Critical Where Relevant
Despite the exemption granted for arts and humanities programmes, the Federal Government emphasized that Mathematics remains a vital requirement for science and technology programmes due to the quantitative nature of those disciplines.
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Students applying for courses in engineering, physical sciences, computer science, economics, accounting, and other mathematically inclined fields must still present a credit pass in Mathematics at the secondary school level.
Conclusion
The Federal Government’s revision of the national admission requirements marks a pivotal moment in the country’s higher education policy.
By adjusting subject-specific criteria to better reflect academic demands, the government aims to promote inclusivity without compromising educational standards.
Education stakeholders have largely welcomed the development, calling it a step toward fairer, merit-based access to tertiary education in Nigeria.
