Education
FG clarifies O’Level admission reforms, reaffirms English language, Mathematics as Compulsory
Written By: Abdullahi Izuagbe
19 Oct 2025 03:09 PM
The Federal Ministry of Education has issued a press release to clarify recent reforms in O’Level admission requirements for tertiary institutions, emphasizing that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory for all students to register and sit for in their Senior School Certificate Examinations.
The statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, aims to address misconceptions following the streamlining of admission guidelines.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, explained that the reform, part of a broader effort to modernize Nigeria’s education system, was designed to promote flexibility, inclusiveness, and fairness in tertiary education admissions.
“The streamlining ensures that capable and deserving students are not denied access to higher education due to credit deficiencies in subjects not directly relevant to their chosen fields of study,” Dr. Alausa stated.
This adjustment, he added, aligns with global best practices, broadening access while maintaining educational integrity.
The new framework allows tertiary institutions to admit candidates into specific programs where credit passes in either English or Mathematics may not be compulsory, provided students meet other relevant subject requirements.
However, the Ministry has firmly mandated that all students must continue to register and sit for both subjects in their O’Level examinations. This dual approach seeks to balance inclusivity with the foundational importance of these subjects as tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning.
The statement signed by Boriowo Folasade, Director of Press and Public Relations, aims to address misconceptions following the streamlining of admission guidelines.
The Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, CON, explained that the reform, part of a broader effort to modernize Nigeria’s education system, was designed to promote flexibility, inclusiveness, and fairness in tertiary education admissions.
“The streamlining ensures that capable and deserving students are not denied access to higher education due to credit deficiencies in subjects not directly relevant to their chosen fields of study,” Dr. Alausa stated.
This adjustment, he added, aligns with global best practices, broadening access while maintaining educational integrity.
The new framework allows tertiary institutions to admit candidates into specific programs where credit passes in either English or Mathematics may not be compulsory, provided students meet other relevant subject requirements.
However, the Ministry has firmly mandated that all students must continue to register and sit for both subjects in their O’Level examinations. This dual approach seeks to balance inclusivity with the foundational importance of these subjects as tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning.
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