Maths, English Remain Compulsory for O’Level Students — FG Clarifies

The Federal Government has reaffirmed that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all students taking their Senior School Certificate Examinations (SSCE), despite recent changes to admission requirements into tertiary institutions.

In a statement released on Sunday by the Federal Ministry of Education, the government clarified that the revised admission policy does not exempt any candidate from registering for or sitting the two core subjects.

The clarification, signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, became necessary following public misinterpretations of the new O’Level admission framework.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, explained that the reform aims to enhance flexibility, fairness, and inclusivity in tertiary education admissions. According to him, the goal is to ensure that qualified candidates are not denied admission because of credit deficiencies in subjects not directly relevant to their intended fields of study.

“The streamlining ensures that deserving students are not denied access to higher education due to credit deficiencies in unrelated subjects,” Alausa stated.

He emphasized that while the new framework may relax credit pass requirements in English or Mathematics for specific programmes, all students are still required to register for and take both subjects in their SSCE.

“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 ministry stressed.

The policy, the ministry said, supports the broader national objectives of inclusive education, equitable access, and human capital development, while maintaining high standards of quality and integrity in the education system.

Parents, students, and other stakeholders were also advised to rely only on official channels and verified platforms of the Ministry of Education for accurate updates regarding reforms and policy changes.

The ministry reiterated its commitment to building a credible, inclusive, and globally competitive education system, rooted in integrity, excellence, and equal opportunity for all learners.