JAMB Registrar Says Removing Maths Requirement for Arts and Humanities Will Curb Exam Malpractices

The Registrar of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, has backed the decision to remove Mathematics as a compulsory subject for admission into arts and humanities courses, saying the move will help reduce exam malpractices and fake results among students.

Speaking at an event in the University of Ibadan, Oloyede explained that the policy adjustment by the Federal Ministry of Education aligns with academic realities. According to him, it makes little sense to deny admission to candidates who wish to study languages like Yoruba, Hausa, Igbo, or Arabic simply because they failed Mathematics.

He noted that insisting on Mathematics for such disciplines has led many students to engage in unethical shortcuts, including forging results, just to meet admission requirements. “What the Ministry of Education is doing is realigning policy with reality — and this will discourage forgeries,” Oloyede said.

The JAMB boss also encouraged students to maintain moral and academic integrity, emphasizing that the goal is to promote fairness and inclusiveness in Nigeria’s education system.

For young people, this policy change signals a positive shift — one that acknowledges diverse strengths and talents beyond mathematical ability, while promoting genuine learning and transparency in the admission process.