CAN reacts to reinstatement of CRK, IRK as separate subjects

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has hailed the Federal Government “for reversing the controversial, unlawful, and ungodly merger of the Christian Religious Studies and the Islamic Religious Studies as a subject by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC).”

Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, gave the directive at a meeting with State commissioners of education and stakeholders in education sector, in Abuja.

The minister, represented by Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwukah, noted that the meeting was aimed at strengthening the partnership within the three tiers of government in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals 4, SDG4.

Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant on Media to CAN President, Rev Samson Olasupo in a statement sent on Saturday, recalled that the merger of the two subjects “had been rejected long before the emergence of this government because it was done without the consent of all stakeholders including CAN and all efforts made to reverse the ungodly policy were fruitless until now.”

 “The reverse of the policy shows that we have a listening and sensitive government who is ready to reverse itself or any unacceptable policy when the need arises.

“CAN also appreciates the timely intervention of the National Assembly in the saga that quickly doused the tension that was generated by the policy.

“However, we ask the Federal Government to do the following: 1. Direct the NERDC to organise a seminar on the New Curriculum with a view to addressing all the grey areas in it especially topics that can promote rebellion in our children.

“2. Mandate all state governments to recruit adequate teachers for the CRK especially in the North where most of the states have no teachers for the subject.

“3. Ask the Federal Ministry of Education to review all the textbooks that are currently being used as some of them are encouraging ungodly practices like masturbation.

“We appreciate all well meaning Nigerians, the media and the civil society for their roles while the controversy lasted. We pray for divine guidance and wisdom for our political leaders as they lead the country”, he said.