Abuja, Nigeria – The Federal Government on Tuesday unveiled a significant change to tertiary institution entry requirements, announcing that a credit pass in Mathematics will no longer be mandatory for candidates seeking admission into Arts and Humanities programs at universities and polytechnics.
In a directive issued by the Federal Ministry of Education, the new policy exempts candidates in these disciplines from needing to present a credit pass in the subject from their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE), as conducted by bodies like the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).
This move is designed to streamline admission criteria and directly address concerns that the mathematics requirement has historically acted as an unnecessary barrier for highly qualified students pursuing careers in creative, social, and cultural fields.
A ministry statement noted that the new measure aims to align admission standards more closely with the specific academic demands of arts-related courses, thereby encouraging greater student enrolment and success in the humanities.
The Federal Ministry of Education is currently working with tertiary education regulatory bodies to finalize the comprehensive implementation guidelines, which are expected to be released shortly. The announcement marks a substantial victory for education advocates who have long argued for specialized admission standards tailored to a candidate’s chosen field of study.
