By Kayode Sanni-Arewa
The Federal Government has announced that Mathematics will no longer be a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into tertiary institutions to study Arts and Humanities-related courses.
The new policy, unveiled on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education, applies to entry requirements for universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions across the country. 
According to a statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, the revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions aim to eliminate unnecessary barriers while maintaining academic standards.
Under the new framework, students seeking admission into Arts and Humanities programmes will only be required to present credits in relevant subjects, including English Language, while Mathematics will remain compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science disciplines.
For the polytechnic level, candidates must obtain a minimum of four credit passes, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-based programmes. Mathematics and English remain compulsory for candidates at the Higher National Diploma level.
Similarly, the guidelines specify that for admission into Colleges of Education, English Language will be mandatory for Arts and Social Science courses, while Mathematics is required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programmes.
Commenting on the development, education analyst Ayodamola Oluwatoyin commended the reform, describing it as a “brilliant step” that will ease access to higher education for many prospective students.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the move was part of efforts to expand access and create a more inclusive tertiary education system.
