The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all students at the O’Level, clarifying that the recently announced policy on streamlined admission requirements does not exempt any candidate from taking these core subjects.
According to the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, the reform aims to promote fairness, inclusiveness, and access to tertiary education by ensuring that qualified candidates are not denied admission solely due to deficiencies in non-core subjects.
He explained that the new framework is designed to modernize Nigeria’s education system and align it with international best practices. Under the updated guidelines, tertiary institutions may admit students into certain programmes where a credit pass in either English or Mathematics is not compulsory. However, all candidates must still register and sit for both subjects during their O’Level examinations.
Dr. Alausa emphasized that English and Mathematics remain essential for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning, stressing that the adjustment affects only admission criteria — not the requirement to study or take the subjects.
The Minister noted that the reform supports President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by expanding opportunities, promoting equity, and recognizing diverse academic strengths among Nigerian learners.
The Ministry urged students, parents, and other stakeholders to depend solely on official communication channels for verified information regarding education policies.
ELIJAH ADEYEMI
