The Federal Government has reaffirmed that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all candidates registering for their O’Level examinations, despite recent adjustments to tertiary institution admission requirements.
In a statement released on Sunday by the Federal Ministry of Education, the government clarified that the reviewed admission policy does not exempt any student from registering or sitting for the two core subjects.
The clarification followed widespread misinterpretation of the new O’Level admission framework, which some believed had removed English and Mathematics as mandatory subjects.
According to the statement signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, the Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the reform was designed to make tertiary admissions more flexible, inclusive, and fair.
Dr. Alausa explained that the initiative aims to ensure that capable students are not denied admission due to deficiencies in subjects that are not directly related to their chosen courses.
“The streamlining ensures that deserving students are not denied access to higher education because of credit deficiencies in subjects that are not directly relevant to their chosen fields,” the minister said.
He further clarified that the reform aligns with global best practices and seeks to correct imbalances in the previous system, which often disqualified students despite strong performance in core or course-related subjects.
However, Alausa emphasized that all candidates must still register for English Language and Mathematics, as they remain integral to general education and foundational learning.
He noted that while institutions now have more flexibility in determining which subjects are essential for specific programmes, the requirement to sit for the two subjects remains unchanged.
