The Federal Government has reaffirmed that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all students at the O’Level, despite recent adjustments to tertiary admission guidelines.
The clarification followed public concerns and misinterpretations surrounding the newly introduced admission framework. In a statement issued in Abuja by the Director of Press and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Education, the government urged students, parents, and education stakeholders to disregard misinformation suggesting otherwise.
According to the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, the updated policy aims to make higher education more inclusive and flexible, but it does not remove the requirement for students to register or sit for English and Mathematics. He explained that the government intends to ensure that capable and qualified candidates are not denied access to tertiary education due to deficiencies in non-core subjects, particularly in disciplines where credits in English or Mathematics may not be mandatory for specific programmes.
Dr. Alausa stressed that the reform affects only admission criteria, not the examination structure, and reiterated that both subjects remain essential to foundational learning. He noted that English and Mathematics form the backbone of effective communication, logical reasoning, and lifelong intellectual growth — skills that are indispensable for national development.
The minister added that the government is focused on expanding educational opportunities, supporting diverse learning strengths, and aligning academic policies with the country’s broader human capital development goals. By doing so, he said, the education sector can accommodate varying competencies while maintaining academic standards across institutions.
He urged the public to depend solely on verified government communication channels for updates about the new admission policy, emphasizing that relying on unofficial sources fuels confusion and misrepresentation.
The clarification is expected to bring relief to millions of students and parents who had expressed uncertainty over the role of core subjects under the revised admission framework. For many young Nigerians, particularly those pursuing vocational and entrepreneurial pathways, understanding the importance of English and Mathematics remains critical to planning their academic and career futures.