The Federal Government has clarified that English and Mathematics remain mandatory for all O’Level students.
It said the revised admission policy only affects course-specific requirements, not the compulsory subjects.
The Federal Government has reaffirmed that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory for all students registering for their O’Level examinations, despite recent adjustments to university and polytechnic admission criteria.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Federal Ministry of Education said the clarification became necessary following widespread misinterpretation of the newly revised O’Level admission framework.
The ministry’s Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, explained that the new policy does not exempt any student from taking or registering for the two core subjects.
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, noted that the reform aims to introduce greater flexibility and fairness into tertiary admissions, ensuring that candidates are not disqualified for lacking credits in subjects unrelated to their intended field of study.
“The new system ensures that qualified students are not denied access to higher education because of deficiencies in subjects that do not directly relate to their disciplines,” Alausa stated.
He added that the adjustment aligns with international standards, enabling institutions to consider candidates for certain programmes where a credit in English or Mathematics may not be compulsory for admission. However, all students are still required to register and sit for both subjects during their O’Level examinations.
The ministry further emphasized that the policy only affects admission criteria for selected courses, not the broader educational requirement to study English and Mathematics.
“All students must continue to take English Language and Mathematics as part of their Senior School Certificate Examinations, as both remain essential to a balanced and foundational education,” the statement concluded.
Earlier reports had indicated that under the new policy, students in arts and humanities disciplines could be admitted into tertiary institutions without a credit pass in Mathematics, provided it is not a core requirement for their chosen program.
