Mathematics No Longer Compulsory for Arts Students — FG Revises Admission Requirements

In a major policy shift, the Federal Ministry of Education has announced that Mathematics will no longer be a compulsory requirement for admission into universities and polytechnics for students in the arts and humanities disciplines.

The announcement, made on Tuesday, follows the approval of the Revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, which seek to “remove unnecessary barriers while maintaining academic standards.”

Until now, all admission seekers — including arts and humanities students — were required to present five credits, including English Language and Mathematics, in the Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) conducted by the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and National Examinations Council (NECO).

With this new directive, candidates applying for programmes in fields such as Law, Mass Communication, English, History, Linguistics, and Theatre Arts, among others, will no longer be disqualified for lacking a credit pass in Mathematics.

The Ministry noted that the reform is part of efforts to make tertiary education more inclusive and aligned with global best practices, ensuring that admission policies reflect the true academic needs of each discipline.