- Safiu Kehinde
The Federal Government has made clarifications on its recent review of students’ admission requirements for tertiary institution.
NPO Reported that the Ministry of Education had last week declared that Mathematics is no longer a mandatory subject to be considered for art students seeking admission into arts related subjects.
While the mandatory credit grade in Mathematics was retained for students seeking admission into science and technology programmes, the requirement was nullified for art students.
This had however sparked mixed reactions and misconception from the public.
Reacting to the controversies, the Education Ministry in a statement issued on Sunday by its Director of Press and Public Relations, Boriowo Folashade, clarified that all students must continue to register and sit for English Language and Mathematics for their O-Level examinations.
Folashade explained that the new policy does not exempt any candidate from registering and sitting for these two core subjects but rather introduces a more inclusive and flexible approach to tertiary admission requirements.
According to her, the Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, explained that the reform was designed to promote flexibility, inclusiveness, and fairness in tertiary education admissions across the country.
Alausa, as cited in the statement, said the streamlining ensures that capable and deserving students are not denied access to higher education due to credit deficiencies in subjects that are not directly relevant to their chosen fields of study.
The Ministry held that its justification for streamlining the O-Level admission guidelines rooted in the need to modernize Nigeria’s education system in line with global best practices.
According to the statement, the new framework will correct imbalance by allowing tertiary institutions to admit candidates into specific programmes where credit passes in either subject are not compulsory.
However, all students are still mandated to register and sit for both subjects in their O-Level examinations.
The Ministry harped on the central importance of English Language and Mathematics as fundamental tools for communication, reasoning, and lifelong learning.
It reiterated that 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 adjustment affects only the admission criteria for certain programmes, not the requirement to study or sit for these subjects.
The Ministry further urged students, parents, and education stakeholders to rely solely on official communication channels and verified social media platforms of the Federal Ministry of Education for accurate and up-to-date information regarding all policies, reforms, and announcements.