Mathematics and the Mind: Why the FG’s U-turn is a step in the right direction | Magbagbeola Basit

When the Federal Government first announced that Mathematics would no longer be compulsory for admission into tertiary institutions for Arts and Humanities students, a wave of celebration rippled through campuses and secondary schools.

For many students, Mathematics had long stood as a dreaded obstacle — a single subject capable of dashing bright dreams and disqualifying promising candidates from pursuing their chosen courses. Yet, beneath that celebration lay a troubling misunderstanding of what education truly means and what the humanities stand for. The Federal Government’s latest U-turn — affirming that Mathematics remains compulsory — is, therefore, a commendable correction and a reaffirmation of academic integrity.

To begin with, Mathematics is not merely about numbers, equations, or theorems; it is about logic, structure, and problem-solving — virtues that transcend disciplines. The argument that students in the Arts and Humanities “do not need” Mathematics is a narrow and outdated perception. The study of philosophy, linguistics, economics, communication, and even literature increasingly demands analytical thinking and statistical awareness. In an era where data drives journalism, communication strategies, and creative industries, mathematical literacy is no longer optional — it is essential.

The earlier waiver would have inadvertently deepened the intellectual gap between disciplines. It would have created an unhealthy divide — producing scientists who think without emotion and humanists who feel without logic. Such a dichotomy is dangerous in a century that rewards interdisciplinary competence. The world does not run on emotions alone, nor on equations alone, but on a harmony of both. By reinstating Mathematics as compulsory, the FG is protecting future generations of Arts and Humanities students from being shortchanged by a weakened curriculum.

Moreover, this reversal signals the government’s responsiveness to reasoned criticism. Parents, teachers, and educationists quickly pointed out that the waiver might encourage academic complacency and reduce the overall standard of secondary education. The Ministry of Education’s decision to listen, review, and reverse course reflects a healthy democracy — one where policies evolve through dialogue, not dogma. That, in itself, deserves commendation.

It is also important to recognize that making Mathematics compulsory does not mean making it unbearable. What students need is not an escape route but a bridge — a better way of teaching Mathematics that connects it to life, language, and logic.

Teachers must move from intimidation to inspiration, from rote formulas to real-life relevance. A student of Literature can learn probability through linguistic patterns; a student of Theatre can understand geometry through stage design; and a student of Mass Communication can appreciate statistics through audience research. Once contextualized, Mathematics becomes less of a monster and more of a mirror reflecting the order of the universe.

The U-turn, therefore, is not a punishment to Arts students; it is a protection of their potential. It ensures that they graduate not just as expressive minds, but as analytical thinkers — citizens who can interpret both emotions and evidence. It is a call to balance creativity with calculation, beauty with accuracy, and expression with logic.

The Federal Government has done well to uphold the central place of Mathematics in education. What remains is to reform its pedagogy and reimagine its purpose, so that no student ever again sees it as an enemy of success, but as a companion of sound thinking.

By defending Mathematics, the government has defended reason — and reason, ultimately, is the soul of learning.

Magbagbeola Basit writes from the department of Mass Communication from Maiduguri University.