The Federal Ministry of Education has reaffirmed that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all O’Level students in Nigeria, clarifying that the newly introduced streamlined admission requirements do not exempt candidates from registering or sitting for the two core subjects.
According to a statement released by the Ministry, the clarification follows widespread misinterpretation of the new O-Level admission guidelines into tertiary institutions.
The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa (CON), explained that the policy reform is aimed at enhancing inclusiveness, flexibility, and fairness in Nigeria’s tertiary admission process, ensuring that qualified students are not unfairly denied access due to credit deficiencies in subjects unrelated to their intended fields of study.
“The goal is to modernize our education system in line with global best practices,” Dr. Alausa stated. “The new framework ensures that while all students must continue to register and sit for English and Mathematics, tertiary institutions now have the flexibility to determine where credit passes in either subject are not mandatory for certain specialized programmes.”
The Minister emphasized that the reform will broaden academic pathways, promote diverse learning opportunities, and strengthen equitable access to higher education across the country — all while maintaining educational standards.
He added that English Language and Mathematics remain the foundation for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning, and as such, they must continue to be taken by all students during their Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
The Ministry assured Nigerians that the reform seeks to remove unnecessary admission barriers without compromising the quality, integrity, and competitiveness of the nation’s education system.
Read Full Press Statement Below:
𝗙𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀𝗔𝗽𝗽 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗹 𝗧𝗼 𝗚𝗲𝘁 𝗟𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝘄𝘀 𝗔𝘀 𝗜𝘁'𝘀 𝗗𝗿𝗼𝗽!
