The Federal Ministry of Education has reassured the public that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all secondary school students in Nigeria, following widespread misconceptions about the recently streamlined O-Level admission guidelines for tertiary institutions.
In a statement issued by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations Sunday, the Ministry stressed that while institutions now have more flexibility to set programme-specific admission criteria, all candidates must still register and sit for English and Mathematics in their O-Level exams.
The clarification comes amid public debate and misinterpretation of the new admission policy, which some had wrongly construed as abolishing the requirement for English and Mathematics in O-Level examinations.
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Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Alausa, explained that the policy aims to widen access to higher education without lowering standards, ensuring that students are not denied admission for lacking credits in subjects unrelated to their chosen fields.
He added that the adjustment aligns with global best practices and supports the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive and equitable education.
The Ministry urged students, parents, and stakeholders to rely only on its official channels for accurate information on education reforms.
