‘English, Maths Compulsory For O’Level’, Federal Government Clarifies Admission Reforms

The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that all students must continue to register and sit for English Language and Mathematics subjects in their O’Level examinations.

It said the new policy does not exempt any candidate from these core subjects at the O’Level examinations, rather it affects only tertiary admission criteria.

The Minister of Education, Dr Maruf Tunji Alausa, explained that the reform was designed to promote fairness and inclusiveness in tertiary education, ensuring that capable students were not denied admission opportunities due to deficiencies in non-core subjects.

“This reform does not remove English and Mathematics from the O’Level curriculum. Every student must still register and sit for both subjects. What we have done is to make the admission process more flexible for certain programmes, particularly in the arts and humanities, where credit passes in either English or Mathematics may not be compulsory for entry,” he stated.

According to the Minister, the streamlining of tertiary admission guidelines aims to modernise Nigeria’s education system and align it with global best practices.

“We are moving towards a system that recognises diverse talents and competencies. This policy encourages institutions to focus on subject relevance while ensuring that foundational learning in English and Mathematics remains intact.”

The reform, Dr Alausa noted, supports the Federal Government’s vision of equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development by broadening academic pathways and recognising varied strengths among learners.

The Ministry, in a statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Mrs Boriowo Folasade, urged students, parents, and stakeholders to rely solely on official communication channels for verified policy updates.

“The Ministry wishes to caution the public against misinformation and urges everyone to seek clarification only through approved government platforms. Our goal is to ensure that no child is left behind in accessing quality and inclusive education,” it added.