English, Mathematics Remain Compulsory For All O’level Students, FG Clarifies
By Alice Etuka, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that all students must continue to register and sit for English Language and Mathematics in their O-Level examinations, adding that the new policy does not exempt Arts and Humanities candidate from these core subjects.
This was contained in a statement issued by the Ministry’s Spokesperson, Boriowo Folasade on Sunday.
Boriowo noted that the new policy introduces a more inclusive and flexible approach to tertiary admission requirements.
She said the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa explained that the reform promotes fairness and inclusiveness in tertiary education by ensuring that capable students were not denied admission due to deficiencies in non-core subjects.
“The streamlining of O-Level admission guidelines aims to modernize Nigeria’s education system and align it with global best practices. It allows institutions to admit candidates into specific programmes where credit passes in either English or Mathematics may not be compulsory, while still mandating that all students register and sit for both subjects”, Boriowo stated.
She further noted that this reform supports the Federal Government’s vision of equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development, broadening academic pathways and recognizing diverse strengths among learners.
“English and Mathematics remain vital tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning. The adjustment affects only admission criteria, not the requirement to take these subjects.
“The Ministry urges students, parents, and stakeholders to rely solely on official communication channels for verified policy updates”, the statement said.
