The Federal Government has reaffirmed that English Language and Mathematics remain compulsory subjects for all secondary school students across Nigeria. This clarification from the Federal Ministry of Education follows public confusion over the recently revised O’Level admission framework, which some had wrongly interpreted as eliminating the requirement for the two core subjects.

Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, explained that the new policy does not lower academic standards but rather introduces flexibility in admission criteria to reflect students’ diverse strengths. He stated that all students must continue to sit for English and Mathematics in national examinations such as WAEC, NECO, and NABTEB. However, credit passes in these subjects may not be mandatory for some programmes where they are not directly relevant. For example, applicants to courses like Creative Arts or Fashion Design may be admitted without a credit in Mathematics, while those applying for Medicine, Engineering, or Accounting must still obtain credits in both.

Dr. Alausa said the reform aims to make Nigeria’s education system more inclusive and aligned with global best practices, providing fairer opportunities for students with varying skill sets. He stressed that English and Mathematics remain the foundation of sound learning and personal development, while calling on parents, students, and the public to rely only on verified information from the Ministry. He reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting a credible, transparent, and globally competitive education system under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.