The National Parents Teachers Association of Nigeria (NAPTAN) has opposed moves by the Federal Government to make Mathematics non-compulsory for arts students seeking admission into tertiary institutions.
Mr. Adeolu Ogunbanjo, Chairman, Board of Trustees of NAPTAN, described the idea as “misguided and risky” in an interview on Sunday.
Recall that the Federal Ministry of Education, in a statement by its spokesperson, Folasade Boriowo, had announced a review of admission requirements for students in the arts and humanities.
Under the new guideline, senior secondary school students in these fields will no longer be required to present a credit in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for tertiary admission.
Boriowo stated that the reform became necessary after years of restricted access, which denied many qualified candidates admission opportunities. She added that while no fewer than two million candidates sit the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, only about 700,000 gain admission.
Ogunbanjo asserted that Mathematics remains vital to all disciplines, including the arts and humanities, as most professions and entrepreneurial ventures require basic numeracy skills to thrive in today’s competitive economy.
He said that while students in the arts may not require an advanced grasp of Mathematics, a pass in the subject should remain a prerequisite for admission into higher institutions.
“Every profession needs a bit of Mathematics. From budgeting to business planning, you cannot do without it. A total cancellation of Mathematics for art students is wrong and should be discouraged.
“Rather than demanding a credit in Mathematics for admission, a pass will be fair and reasonable. That way, students maintain basic numeracy without being unfairly excluded from tertiary education,” Ogunbanjo said.
The NAPTAN official therefore called on education policymakers to carefully review the implications of removing Mathematics from admission requirements.
According to him, such a move could weaken the academic foundation of students and limit their long-term career prospects, hence the need for at least a pass in Mathematics for admission into tertiary institutions.
