CAN lauds govt’s decision reinstating CRK, IRK as separate subjects

From Fred Ezeh, Abuja 

THE Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) has expressed satisfaction with the recent Federal Government directive to the relevant agencies concerned with the formulation and implementation of the basic education curriculum to reverse to the status quo as regards teaching of Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) and Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK). 

  The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) had in its nine-year basic education curriculum collapsed both CRK and IRK into Religious and National Values as a subject.

  The development generated wide criticisms in both social and mainstream media, leaving the Executive Secretary of the NERDC, Prof. Ismail Junaidu to consistently explain why the decision was taken and endorsed by the National Council on Education (NCE).

The Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, had few days ago conveyed the message of the Presidency directing the NERDC to commence the process of detaching CRK and IRK from Religious and National Values and make them stand alone subjects in curriculum. 

  CAN President, Rev. Samson Olasupo, in a statement yesterday, thanked the government for its quick intervention, noting that it saved Nigeria from academic and religious crisis. 

  The statement signed by his media aide, Bayo Oladeji, described the decision as wise and timely, saying it was an indication that government was listening, sensitive and ready to reverse itself in any policy that it erred.    The association, however, urged the government to further direct the NERDC to organise a seminar on the new curriculum to address all identified grey areas.