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

The Federal Government has approved a sweeping reform of admission requirements for Nigerian tertiary institutions to make higher education more inclusive and accessible.

The new National Guidelines for Entry Requirements, announced by Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, Minister of Education, aim to eliminate outdated criteria that have long denied qualified candidates admission despite meeting academic standards.

Under the revised policy, universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies (IEAs) will adopt more flexible subject requirements while maintaining academic integrity.

Key changes include:

• Mathematics no longer compulsory for Arts students in universities.
• Minimum of four or five credits (depending on the institution and course).
• IEAs to adopt polytechnic standards, with the National Innovation Diploma (NID) replaced by the National Diploma (ND).

The reform is expected to create opportunities for up to 300,000 additional students annually.

Dr. Alausa said the move aligns with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing inclusivity, fairness, and youth empowerment through expanded access to quality education.