Breaking News: English, Mathematics Compulsory for All O’Level Students

The Federal Government has reiterated that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all students registering for O’Level examinations, despite recent adjustments to tertiary admission requirements.

In a statement issued by the Federal Ministry of Education on Saturday, October 18, 2025, the government clarified that the new policy does not exempt any student from writing the two core subjects but seeks to introduce greater flexibility and inclusiveness in the admission process.

The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa (CON), said the reform was aimed at ensuring fairness and widening access to tertiary institutions without lowering academic standards. He explained that while credit passes in English or Mathematics may not be mandatory for certain specialised programmes, all candidates are still required to register and sit for both subjects.

According to the Ministry, the policy is in line with global best practices and supports the Federal Government’s commitment to equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development. It also seeks to modernize Nigeria’s education system by recognizing diverse intellectual strengths among students.

The Ministry reaffirmed that English and Mathematics remain vital tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning, stressing that they form the foundation of sound education.

It urged students, parents, and other stakeholders to rely only on official information released by the Ministry to avoid the spread of misinformation regarding education policies.