The Federal Government of Nigeria has firmly reiterated that Mathematics remains a compulsory subject for all students seeking admission into tertiary institutions across the country, including those applying for Arts and Humanities courses, putting to rest recent mixed signals about the policy.
Last week, the Ministry of Education announced a major overhaul of the admission requirements, stating that Mathematics would no longer be mandatory for Arts students seeking entrance into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. This move aimed to widen access to tertiary education by removing barriers that prevented many qualified candidates from admission, given that over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) yearly while only about 700,000 secure admission.
However, in a swift U-turn, the Federal Ministry of Education clarified that despite the new framework aimed at inclusivity and flexibility, English Language and Mathematics remain core O’Level subjects essential for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning, and therefore mandatory for admission into tertiary institutions, regardless of the candidate’s field of study.Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations at the Ministry, emphasized in a recent statement that O’Level students must continue to register and sit for both subjects.
The Ministry noted that this clarification seeks to uphold academic standards while ensuring broader access and opportunity for students nationwide. The controversy has sparked mixed reactions among educators, parents, and stakeholders. Some have argued that Mathematics is more relevant to Science and Social Science students and should not hinder Arts students’ admission. Others back the government’s stance, highlighting the subject’s importance for essential skills development.
The Federal Government’s position underscores its commitment to balancing educational inclusion and academic rigor as it continues to refine Nigeria’s tertiary admission processes.
