By John Umeh
The Federal Government has moved to clear the air on its new education policy, insisting that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all O’Level candidates across the country.
In a statement on Sunday, the Federal Ministry of Education dismissed speculation that the recently introduced admission reforms exempted students from taking the two core subjects.
The ministry’s spokesperson, Mrs. Boriowo Folasade, explained that while universities and polytechnics now have more flexibility in admission requirements, the adjustment does not affect the mandatory registration of English and Mathematics in the Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE).
Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, said the reforms were designed to “make admissions more inclusive and fair,” but stressed that the two subjects remain the bedrock of Nigeria’s education system.
“The new framework allows institutions to admit students into certain programmes without requiring credit in either English or Mathematics, but all students must still register and sit for both subjects,” Alausa clarified.
He noted that the changes were introduced to ensure that capable students are not unfairly excluded from higher education due to poor performance in subjects that may not directly relate to their chosen courses of study.
The ministry further stressed that the policy aligns with international best practices and aims to strengthen access to tertiary education without lowering standards.
It also urged parents, students, and stakeholders to rely on official government channels for accurate information, warning against misinformation circulating online.
The clarification comes after reports claimed that candidates pursuing arts and humanities courses would no longer need Mathematics as a prerequisite for university admission. While true for specific programmes, the government emphasized that this does not remove the obligation for all candidates to sit for both English and Mathematics in their SSCE.
