By Bababunmi Agbebi
Edited by Ezennia Uche
In recent weeks, there has been significant discussion around a policy change regarding the admission requirements for Arts and Humanities programmes in Nigerian tertiary institutions. While a preliminary announcement seemed to indicate that Mathematics would no longer be required for such programmes, a clarifying statement from the Federal Government has modified that message.
What Was Announced?
An earlier communiqué from the ministry announced that for students applying to study Arts and Humanities disciplines (such as Literature, History, Languages, Philosophy), the subject of Mathematics would not be required as a credit pass in their Senior Secondary Certificate Examinations (SSCE) for admission into certain programmes.
Under that version of the policy, English Language would remain mandatory, and candidates would still need a minimum of five credit passes in relevant subjects — but without the requirement of Mathematics for Arts & Humanities.
What’s the Clarification?
However, in a follow-up statement issued by the ministry, it was clarified that all students must still register and sit for both English Language and Mathematics in their O-Level (SSCE) examinations.
• While institutions may admit students into certain Arts/Humanities programmes without a credit pass in Mathematics, the subject remains compulsory to sit at the O-Level level.
• In other words: the requirement to pass (i.e., obtain credit) in Mathematics has been relaxed for certain programmes, but the requirement to take the subject (register and sit for it) has not been removed.
Who Does This Apply To?
The revised guidelines (and the subsequent clarification) apply to:
• Universities
• Polytechnics
• Colleges of Education
• Innovation/Enterprise Institutions
Here’s a breakdown of how the policy now stands across institution types:
Institution Type
Arts/Humanities
Science/Tech/Social Sciences
Universities
5 credits including English (Mathematics may not be required for credit)
5 credits including English and Mathematics
Polytechnics (ND level)
4 credits including English
4 credits including Mathematics
Polytechnics (HND level)
5 credits including English and Mathematics
5 credits including English and Mathematics
Colleges of Education
English only (Mathematics not required for credit in Arts/Social Sciences)
Mathematics required for Science/Vocational/Technical
Note: For Arts/Humanities programmes, the requirement for a credit pass in Mathematics may have been relaxed in certain cases — but students must still have taken the subject at O-Level (and registered for it).
Why Was This Change Made?
The official rationale from the ministry is that the reform seeks to remove unnecessary barriers to tertiary education, particularly for students whose chosen fields do not critically depend on Mathematics. The aim is to open up more access while maintaining educational standards and relevance.
“English and Mathematics remain vital tools for communication, reasoning and lifelong learning,” the ministry noted, underscoring that the subject remains compulsory to sit at the O-Level level.
The clarification statement emphasised that the new admission criteria adjust the credit pass requirement, not the examination requirement itself.
What This Means & What You Should Watch For
• If you’re applying for an Arts or Humanities programme: You still must present evidence that you took both English and Mathematics at O-Level. However, you may not need to have obtained a credit pass in Mathematics, depending on the programme and institution.
• For Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics (STEM) and Social Sciences: The usual requirement of passing both English and Mathematics remains firm.
• Institutions may vary in how they apply the relaxed requirement, so check the specific admission guidelines of each university, polytechnic or college.
• This reform does not mean skipping Mathematics entirely—students are required to register and sit for it. Failing to have it on the O-Level certificate may still be a problem depending on institutional rules.
• Stay alert for official notices from both the ministry and the individual institutions — what’s published online may lag or be superseded by further revisions.
Bottom Line:
The headline that “Mathematics has been dropped for Arts/Humanities admissions” was partly true, but somewhat misleading. While the requirement to pass Mathematics (for certain programmes) may be relaxed, the requirement to sit or it remains untouched. The real shift is in the credit-pass threshold, not the examination obligation itself.
In recent weeks, there has been significant discussion around a policy change regarding the admission requirements for Arts and Humanities programmes in Nigerian tertiary institutions. While a preliminary announcement seemed to indicate that Mathematics would no longer be required for such programmes, a clarifying statement from the Federal Government has modified that message.
