The Federal Government has approved sweeping reforms in Nigeria’s tertiary education admission process, removing Mathematics as a compulsory subject for Arts students.
The policy change follows the approval of the new National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Tertiary Institutions, designed to make higher education more accessible and inclusive.
According to Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, the reform was championed by Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
The government said the move aims to expand opportunities for millions of Nigerian youths who were previously denied admission due to rigid entry policies.
Dr. Alausa explained that out of more than two million candidates who sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) each year, only about 700,000 gain admission a situation he attributed to outdated academic requirements rather than poor performance.
“Our goal is fairness and opportunity,” Alausa said. “No capable student should be denied education because of obsolete policies.
This reform is about equity and national development.”
Under the new framework, Mathematics remains mandatory for Science, Technology, and Social Science students, but not for those in the Arts.
The updated guidelines affect all institutions universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs).
The minimum requirement for admission remains five credit passes, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings.
Additionally, the National Innovation Diploma (NID) previously awarded by IEAs has been abolished and replaced with the National Diploma (ND) to ensure standardization.
The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to re-accredit all IEAs to align with the new standards. Institutions failing to meet the new benchmarks risk de-accreditation.
Dr. Alausa projected that the reforms could enable an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students to gain admission annually.
He added, “Our young people are the heartbeat of this nation.
This reform gives every Nigerian youth a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed.”
The government reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education and youth empowerment as part of President Tinubu’s broader agenda for human capital development and national progress.
The post Mathematics No Longer Compulsory for Arts Students – FG first appeared on DDM.
