FG Drops Compulsory Mathematics for Arts and Humanities University Admission
The Federal Government has announced a major policy shift, removing Mathematics as a compulsory subject for students seeking admission into tertiary institutions to study Arts and Humanities courses.
The new policy aims to eliminate unnecessary barriers for prospective students while maintaining overall academic quality across the country.
Immediate Policy Effect and Scope
The revised National Guidelines, unveiled on Tuesday by the Federal Ministry of Education, immediately affect entry requirements across all major categories of tertiary institutions:
- Universities
- Polytechnics
- Colleges of Education
- Innovation Enterprise Institutions
According to a statement signed by the Ministry’s spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, the guidelines are designed to streamline the admission process for non-science students.
New Entry Requirements: Who Still Needs Mathematics?
While the policy is a relief for Arts and Humanities students, the Federal Ministry of Education emphasized that Mathematics remains mandatory for all Science, Technology, and Social Science related courses.
The new framework details the minimum entry requirements by institution type:
| Institution Level | Requirement for Arts/Non-Science Courses | Requirement for Science/Tech Courses |
|---|---|---|
| University | Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, in not more than two sittings. | Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, in not more than two sittings. |
| Polytechnic (ND) | Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language. | Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, including Mathematics. |
| Polytechnic (HND) | Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. | Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language and Mathematics. |
| Colleges of Education (NCE) | Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, with English Language mandatory. | Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, with Mathematics required. |
The Rationale: Removing Unnecessary Barriers
The Ministry of Education confirmed that the core goal of the revised guidelines is to maintain academic standards while addressing specific challenges faced by students who specialize early in the Arts and Liberal Studies streams.
“The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are designed to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards,” the Ministry statement affirmed.
This policy change marks a significant development for students who traditionally struggled with the Mathematics requirement despite excelling in their Arts or Humanities-related subjects.