The Federal Government has reversed its earlier position, reaffirming that Mathematics remains a compulsory subject for admission into tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
This clarification was contained in a press statement issued on Sunday by Boriowo Folashade, spokesperson for the Federal Ministry of Education.
Last Tuesday, the government had announced that Mathematics would no longer be mandatory for students seeking admission into tertiary institutions to study Arts and Humanities courses.
The policy, according to the initial announcement, was expected to apply to universities, polytechnics, colleges of education, and Innovation Enterprise Institutions nationwide.
However, in a follow-up statement titled “English and Mathematics remain compulsory for all O’Level students — FG clarifies streamlined admission requirements”, the Ministry restated that both subjects are essential for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning.
The statement read: “The Federal Ministry of Education has clarified that all students must continue to register and sit for English Language and Mathematics in their O-Level examinations.
The new policy does not exempt any candidate from these core subjects but rather introduces a more inclusive and flexible approach to tertiary admission requirements.
“The Minister of Education, Dr. Maruf Tunji Alausa, explained that the reform promotes fairness and inclusiveness in tertiary education by ensuring that capable students are not denied admission due to deficiencies in non-core subjects.
“The streamlining of O-Level admission guidelines aims to modernize Nigeria’s education system and align it with global best practices. It allows institutions to admit candidates into specific programmes where credit passes in either English or Mathematics may not be compulsory, while still mandating that all students register and sit for both subjects.”
The statement emphasised that the reform supports the Federal Government’s vision of equitable access, inclusivity, and human capital development, expanding academic opportunities and acknowledging diverse student abilities.
It further clarified that the adjustment applies only to admission criteria, not to the requirement to take both subjects, urging students, parents, and stakeholders to rely solely on official communication channels for accurate policy updates.
