Pat Stevens/
The Federal Ministry of Education has approved a major revision to Nigeria’s secondary and tertiary education framework, removing Mathematics as a compulsory subject for Arts and Humanities students.
Similarly, the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) has restricted Economics to Business (Commercial) students only.
Under the new National Guidelines for Entry Requirements into Nigerian Tertiary Institutions, candidates seeking admission into universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education must still obtain at least five credit passes, including English Language.
However, Mathematics will now be required only for Science, Technology, and Social Science courses.
Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the reform is designed to make the education system more inclusive and reflective of students’ diverse academic strengths.
He explained that rigid subject requirements had, for years, unfairly limited admission opportunities for thousands of qualified candidates.
Education experts have hailed the decision as a progressive step. However, critics have cautioned that while the policy may increase enrolment, it could lead to lower academic standards in some disciplines if not implemented with clear safeguards.
In a related development, WAEC announced a new subject combination policy effective from the 2026 examinations cycle.
Under the revised framework, only students in the Commercial stream will be allowed to offer Economics, while Science and Arts students will no longer be permitted to register for the subject.
WAEC said the decision followed a comprehensive review of the national curriculum, aimed at ensuring that students’ subject selections align more closely with their chosen fields of study.
The dual reforms, by the Ministry of Education and WAEC, mark one of the most sweeping changes in Nigeria’s education policy in recent years, potentially reshaping admission patterns across tertiary institutions from 2026.
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