Maths, English remain compulsory for O’Level students – FG

The Federal Government has clarified that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all students registering for their O’Level examinations, despite the recent review of tertiary admission requirements.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the Federal Ministry of Education said the new policy on streamlined admission criteria does not exempt any candidate from registering or sitting for the two core subjects.

The clarification, signed by the Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folasade, followed widespread misinterpretations of the newly introduced O’Level admission framework.

Earlier on Tuesday, Boriowo had announced that senior secondary school students in the arts and humanities would no longer be required to present a credit in Mathematics for tertiary admissions. She explained that the reform became necessary to widen access to higher education after years of restricted opportunities that denied many qualified candidates admission.

According to her, while over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination annually, only about 700,000 gain admission — a gap the new policy seeks to address.

However, the announcement sparked controversy among educationists, some of whom warned that the policy could encourage complacency among students and lower academic standards.

In the latest clarification, the ministry stressed that the reform does not remove the requirement for students to register and sit for Mathematics and English Language in their Senior School Certificate Examinations.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the reform aims to promote flexibility, inclusiveness, and fairness in tertiary admissions, ensuring that capable students are not denied access because of deficiencies in subjects unrelated to their chosen fields of study.

“The streamlining ensures that deserving students are not denied access to higher education due to credit deficiencies in subjects that are not directly relevant to their chosen fields of study,” Alausa said.

He added that the new framework aligns with global best practices and seeks to correct imbalances in the previous admission system.

While the updated guidelines allow tertiary institutions to admit candidates into certain programmes where credit passes in either Mathematics or English are not compulsory, all students must still register for and sit both subjects.

“The adjustment only affects admission criteria for specific programmes, not the requirement to take the subjects,” the ministry emphasised.

“All students must continue to take both subjects as part of their Senior School Certificate Examinations, as they remain vital components of a sound educational foundation,” the statement partly read.

The ministry reaffirmed that the reform supports the Federal Government’s broader goal of equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development, while upholding quality and integrity in the education system.

It also urged students, parents, and other stakeholders to rely solely on the ministry’s official communication channels and verified social media platforms for accurate updates on education reforms and policy changes.