The Federal Government has clarified that Mathematics remains a compulsory subject for all students sitting for O-Level examinations.
Naijaonpoint recalls that the spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education, Boriowo Folashade, recently announced that senior secondary school students in the arts and humanities would no longer be required to present a credit in Mathematics in their Senior School Certificate Examination (SSCE) for tertiary admissions.
Folashade had stated that the reform became necessary after years of restricted access, which denied many qualified candidates admission opportunities.
She had said that while over two million candidates sit for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) annually, only about 700,000 gain admission.
However, the issue generated controversy as some educationists rejected the policy shift, saying it would further encourage laziness among students and negatively impact their academic excellence and performance.
However, Folashade, in a press statement issued on Sunday, clarified that the new admission guidelines do not exempt any candidate from registering and sitting for Mathematics.
The statement added that while institutions may now admit candidates into specific programmes where credit passes in either English or Mathematics are not mandatory, students are still required to take both subjects during their O-Level exams.
According to the statement, the reform supports the Federal Government’s vision of equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development.
The Ministry also urged students, parents, and stakeholders to rely solely on official communication channels for verified policy updates.
The statement added, “All students must continue to register and sit for English Language and Mathematics in their O-Level examinations.
“This adjustment affects only admission criteria, not the requirement to take these subjects.
“English and Mathematics remain vital tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning. This is a clarification on the streamlined admission requirements to expand access to tertiary education.”
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