CRK Still Taught In Schools - FG

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.

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

School Curriculum: Removing CRK, Keeping Islamic/Arabic Studies A Move To Islamize Nigeria - Apostol Suleiman

President of the Omega Fire Ministries, Apostle Johnson Suleman, has expressed outrage at the removal of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) as a subject of study from the secondary school curriculum, describing it as a move by President Muhammadu Buhari to Islamise Nigeria.

Recall that the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) complained about the development during its meeting with Acting President Yemi Osinbajo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

The delegation led by its President, Rev Dr Samson Olasupo Ayokunle, also listed demands on the matter and other burning issues in a letter delivered to Osinbajo.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Phrank Shaibu, spokesman of the church, Apostle Suleman, stated that the decision to scrap CRK as a subject in the curriculum but only to be studied as a theme in civic education while leaving Islamic/Arabic studies as a subject to be studied in the secondary school curriculum, is a deliberate plot by the Buhari administration, among other schemes, eliminate Christianity or at best reduce it to insignificance in Nigeria.

“The new curriculum which is the brain-child of the Nigerian Educational Research Council and which is mischievously crafted to force Islamic Studies down the throat of non adherents is unjust, discriminatory, a subtle attempt at islamization, and therefore unacceptable,” the statement said.

“This is a well orchestrated and articulated plot. Let nobody try to fool Nigerians that it was a mistake or a coincidence. Why is it that CRK would be removed as a subject to be studied from the secondary school school curriculum while Islamic/Arabic studies is retained? This is a plan from hell and it shall not stand”, he declared.

Apostle Suleman also noted that the policy has been introduced at a time when Fulani herdsmen are on rampage in parts of the country and just before so called Arewa youths gave Igbo people living in the North to quit before October 1.

“Over 7000 people have been killed by these Fulani herdsmen with our security forces unable to stop the bloodshed. So called Arewa youths backed by some discredited elders have also issued a treasonable ultimatum to Igbo people without any reprisals from the Buhari government. So, is it a coincidence that Christian Religious Knowledge has been expunged from the school curriculum?” he queried.

Apostle Suleman called on the Federal Government to reverse the “offensive” policy and immediately restore Christian Religious Knowledge to the curriculum while commending the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) for being at the forefront of seeking to redress the anomaly.

“This evil policy must be reversed immediately. What is sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander. Christain Religious Knowledge (CRK) must be restored to the school curriculum. And I’m happy that the CAN has taken up the battle to ensure that those who seek to banish our faith do not succeed. We will continue to speak out until satan and his agents are put to shame”, he declared.

Similarly, he called on the government to stem the tide of consistent attacks by Fulani herdsmen as well as deal with those giving ultimatum to people from an ethnic group to vacate the north.

“For long, Fulani herdsmen continue to kill, rape and burn people’s homes without restraint. In the event that the safety of an ethnic group cannot be guaranteed in any part of the country, then Nigerians should know that it is not a coincidence. And my God shall not fold arms while the devil and his children seek to destroy the destiny of Nigeria”, he declared.

“We have the strength of character, the courage and the conviction to mount a sustained campaign in defence of justice, and in defence of our religion. We will not give up our religious practice because of someone else’. Nigeria belongs to us all and not for a few bigots who currently occupy positions of authority,” the cleric added.

By Wale Odunsi