Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council
(NERDC) has dispelled the story making rounds on Christian Religious Knowledge
(CRK) being removed from the curriculum of basic education, saying, CRK is
still taught in schools; as a separate distinct subject with the accompanying
Teachers’ Guide.
The Executive Secretary Professor Ismail Junaidu in a statement said CRK is not a theme in Civic Education as said, but that Civic Education is a distinct subject on its own which teaches the rudiments of good citizenship.
The discussions about the “removal” of Christian Religious Studies (CRS) from Nigeria’s secondary school curriculum have been ongoing since a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) paid a visit to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House.
"The Management of NERDC hereby reiterates categorically and unequivocally to all Nigerians that the subject offerings (Civic Education, Social Studies, Christian Religious Knowledge, Islamic Studies and Security Education) under the Religion and National Values Curriculum are distinct, as listed and taught separately on the timetable," he said.
Professor Junaidu also said there is no subject in the Nigerian School Curriculum called Islamic Arabic Studies nor anywhere in the world as being speculated.
"Efforts are in top gear to print the Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic Studies Curriculum separately in order to maintain their characteristics and distinctiveness," he said.
He maintained that in the Curriculum, no child should be coerced or compelled to learn or be taught in school any religious studies subject but only one (out of the two) that restrictively relates to the belief system professed by the child and his/her parents.
Teachers, according to him, have been trained in the six Geopolitical Zones to be able to teach these distinct subjects. "They are well aware of the mode of teaching the Religion and National Values Curriculum as distinct subjects on the time table," he added.
He however, appealed to politicians and fifth columnist to desist from dragging education into the political melee capable of destabilising the education sector and mortgaging the future of upcoming generation of Nigerians.
The NERDC boss said as a Regional Centre of Curriculum Excellence, they are very receptive to good suggestions from all critical stakeholders especially ideas that are policy driven and within their mandate.
The Executive Secretary Professor Ismail Junaidu in a statement said CRK is not a theme in Civic Education as said, but that Civic Education is a distinct subject on its own which teaches the rudiments of good citizenship.
The discussions about the “removal” of Christian Religious Studies (CRS) from Nigeria’s secondary school curriculum have been ongoing since a delegation of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) paid a visit to Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House.
"The Management of NERDC hereby reiterates categorically and unequivocally to all Nigerians that the subject offerings (Civic Education, Social Studies, Christian Religious Knowledge, Islamic Studies and Security Education) under the Religion and National Values Curriculum are distinct, as listed and taught separately on the timetable," he said.
Professor Junaidu also said there is no subject in the Nigerian School Curriculum called Islamic Arabic Studies nor anywhere in the world as being speculated.
"Efforts are in top gear to print the Christian Religious Knowledge and Islamic Studies Curriculum separately in order to maintain their characteristics and distinctiveness," he said.
He maintained that in the Curriculum, no child should be coerced or compelled to learn or be taught in school any religious studies subject but only one (out of the two) that restrictively relates to the belief system professed by the child and his/her parents.
Teachers, according to him, have been trained in the six Geopolitical Zones to be able to teach these distinct subjects. "They are well aware of the mode of teaching the Religion and National Values Curriculum as distinct subjects on the time table," he added.
He however, appealed to politicians and fifth columnist to desist from dragging education into the political melee capable of destabilising the education sector and mortgaging the future of upcoming generation of Nigerians.
The NERDC boss said as a Regional Centre of Curriculum Excellence, they are very receptive to good suggestions from all critical stakeholders especially ideas that are policy driven and within their mandate.
NERDC stands for integrity and excellence in educational
research and development. The management stands for education for human
dignity, economic reconstruction and value reorientation.
By Chidimma C. Okeke
