The Federal Government has reaffirmed that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all students registering for their O’Level examinations, despite recent reviews of tertiary admission requirements.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the Federal Ministry of Education explained that 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 in the week, 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 said the reform was introduced to widen access to higher education after years of limited opportunities that excluded many qualified candidates.
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 aims to bridge.
However, the announcement sparked mixed reactions among educationists, some of whom warned that the policy might encourage complacency and weaken academic standards.
In its latest statement, the ministry clarified that the reform does not remove the requirement for students to register and sit for both Mathematics and English Language in their Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
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Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, said the reform was designed to promote flexibility, inclusiveness, and fairness in tertiary admissions, ensuring that capable students are not denied opportunities because of deficiencies in subjects unrelated to their chosen fields.
“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 stated.
He added that the framework aligns with global best practices and seeks to correct imbalances in the previous admission system.
While the revised guidelines allow tertiary institutions to admit candidates into certain programmes where a credit in either Mathematics or English is not mandatory, 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 added.
The ministry reaffirmed that the reform supports the Federal Government’s broader goals of equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development while maintaining quality and integrity in the education system.
It also urged students, parents, and other stakeholders to rely solely on official communication channels and verified platforms for accurate information on education reforms and policy changes.
