Mathematics is no longer compulsory for Arts students – Minister of Education Tunji Alausa

The Federal Government has approved a comprehensive reform of admission entry requirements for all tertiary institutions in Nigeria, introducing a more flexible and inclusive framework aimed at expanding access to higher education.

The reform follows the approval of the National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Tertiary Institutions in Nigeria, as announced in a statement by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education.

According to the statement, the new policy, championed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, seeks to democratize access to tertiary education and empower Nigerian youths in line with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The policy represents a major stride in promoting inclusivity and driving national development through equitable education opportunities,” the ministry stated.

Dr. Alausa explained that the reform became necessary after years of restrictive admission criteria that left many qualified candidates without placement despite meeting academic standards.

He noted that while over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, only about 700,000 gain admission — a disparity he attributed to outdated and rigid entry requirements rather than lack of ability.

“This imbalance must give way to fairness and opportunity. Our goal is to ensure that capable and deserving candidates are not denied education because of obsolete policies,” Dr. Alausa said.

Under the new guidelines, admission requirements have been updated across universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) while maintaining academic integrity.

For universities, candidates must have a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, in not more than two sittings. Mathematics remains compulsory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses but is no longer mandatory for Arts students.

For polytechnics (ND level), a minimum of four credits is required in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programmes.

At the HND level, candidates must have five credits, including English Language and Mathematics.

For Colleges of Education (NCE level), a minimum of four credits is required — with English compulsory for Arts and Social Sciences, and Mathematics compulsory for Science, Vocational, and Technical courses.

For B.Ed programmes in Colleges of Education, a minimum of five credits including English and Mathematics is required, depending on the field of study.

Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) will now adopt the same requirements as polytechnics for ND programmes. The government also announced the abolition of the National Innovation Diploma (NID), which will be replaced by the National Diploma (ND) to ensure uniformity and strengthen credibility across institutions.

The National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) has been directed to re-accredit all IEAs nationwide in line with the new standards. Institutions that fail to meet full accreditation requirements risk de-accreditation.

Dr. Alausa said the reform is expected to open admission opportunities to an additional 250,000 to 300,000 students annually.

“Our young people are the heartbeat of this nation. This reform ensures that every Nigerian youth has a fair chance to learn, grow, and succeed. We are equipping them with the education and skills they need to reach their full potential and contribute meaningfully to national development,” he said.

The Federal Government reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive education, human capital development, and youth empowerment in line with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.