FG Clarifies: English and Mathematics Still Mandatory for All O’Level Students Despite Streamlined Admission Policy

The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects that all O’Level candidates must register and sit for, despite the recent streamlining of admission requirements into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.

In a statement issued by the Ministry, the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, explained that the new policy does not exempt any candidate from registering or writing the two core subjects. Instead, it introduces a more flexible and inclusive framework for tertiary admission, ensuring that deserving students are not unfairly excluded from higher education opportunities.

According to the Minister, the policy seeks to promote fairness and accessibility in the nation’s education system by aligning with global best practices. “The reform was designed to modernize admission processes and ensure that students are not denied access to tertiary education simply because of deficiencies in subjects that are not directly relevant to their chosen fields of study,” Dr. Alausa stated.

He clarified that while credit passes in English or Mathematics may not be compulsory for certain specialized programmes, every student must still register and sit for both subjects during their O’Level examinations.

The Federal Government emphasized that the reform supports its broader commitment to equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development, creating academic pathways that accommodate different intellectual strengths while maintaining educational integrity and quality standards.

Through this initiative, the Ministry of Education aims to remove unnecessary barriers to tertiary education and foster a more flexible and merit-driven admission process for Nigerian students.