By Mary Onyia
The recent decision by the Federal Government to remove the long-standing requirement for a credit pass in mathematics for students applying to study Arts and Humanities in tertiary institutions in the country has generated intense debate in Nigeria’s education sector.
Announced by the Spokes person of the Federal Ministry of Education, Folashade Boriowo, on Tuesday, in Abuja, this policy change is seen by some as a way to widen access, while others worry it could lower academic standards.
According to the policy document, “The revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions are designed to remove barriers while maintaining academic standards.
“The new framework applies to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Academies across the country as follows:
“Universities: Minimum of five (5) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language, obtained in not more than two sittings. Mathematics is mandatory for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
“Polytechnics (ND Level): Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, including English Language for non-science courses and Mathematics for science-related programs.
“Colleges of Education (NCE Level): Minimum of four (4) credit passes in relevant subjects, with English Language mandatory for Arts and Social Science courses, and Mathematics required for Science, Vocational, and Technical programs,” the statement said.
According to the statement signed by Boriowo, the reform is aimed at “removing barriers while maintaining academic standards.” Under the new framework, Mathematics remains compulsory only for Science, Technology, and Social Science disciplines, while English Language continues to be mandatory across all fields.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, described the reform as a “deliberate effort to expand access to tertiary education and make the system more inclusive,” suggesting that rigid entry barriers have historically shut out many talented students from higher learning opportunities.
While the reform could democratize access and reduce failure-induced exclusion from universities, the likely implications of this policy could be huge.
Critics warn that removing Mathematics — a universal tool for logic, reasoning, and data literacy could erode the intellectual rigor and competitiveness of Nigeria’s graduates. Education analysts argue that such a policy may produce students who are less equipped to navigate an increasingly data-driven world, thereby weakening the nation’s human capital base over time.
Recall that for decades, Mathematics and English Language have been twin pillars of Nigeria’s secondary school certification, regarded as essential prerequisites for entry into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education. This new directive, contained in the revised National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, effectively ends that tradition for Arts and Humanities aspirants.
In a country already grappling with declining learning outcomes and global competitiveness, the move reignites an old question: Should access to education come at the expense of quality?
