A credit pass in Mathematics is no longer a compulsory requirement for admission into several university programmes in Nigeria, particularly in the Arts, Humanities, and selected language-related disciplines, the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has officially clarified
The development marks a major shift in Nigeria’s tertiary education admission policy, aimed at reducing long-standing barriers that have prevented many qualified candidates from gaining access to higher education in their chosen fields.
For years, Nigerian secondary school leavers have been required to obtain at least five credit passes in core subjects, including English Language and Mathematics, regardless of their intended area of study. That blanket requirement has now been relaxed for specific disciplines where Mathematics is not considered essential.
The reform, driven by the Federal Ministry of Education and endorsed by JAMB, is designed to align admission requirements with the practical needs and relevance of individual academic programmes.
Officials say the change is part of ongoing efforts to make higher education more inclusive and accessible, especially for students whose strengths lie in non-scientific fields.
According to JAMB’s Director of Public Affairs, Fabian Benjamin, the decision reflects the board’s commitment to ensuring that admission criteria are consistent with the realities of different disciplines.
In his words, “Students in some courses, especially in the Arts and Humanities, have nothing to lose if they do not have a credit in Mathematics because there is no direct relationship between their disciplines and Mathematics.”
He further explained that the previous requirement had placed unnecessary limitations on many candidates who were otherwise well-qualified for university admission in their preferred courses.
Benjamin added, “We are trying to ensure that no student is denied admission simply because of a subject that is not relevant to their chosen field of study.”
According to him, the adjustment does not lower academic standards but instead ensures fairness by tailoring requirements to suit specific academic programmes.
The announcement has been described by education stakeholders as a landmark reform that could significantly expand access to tertiary education across the country.
However, some observers have called for careful implementation to avoid confusion among institutions, students, and admission officers during application processes.
JAMB also clarified that the new guideline applies only to selected programmes, while Mathematics remains a compulsory requirement for science, technology, engineering, and other related fields where numerical competence is essential.
