PRESS STATEMENT

CAN Commends FG on the Reinstatement of Christian Religious Studies and Islamic Studies as Separate Subjects

The leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) is using this medium to register our sincere and deep appreciation to 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).

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.

You are pleased requested to disseminate this information to the public.

Thank you for your kind cooperation.

Pastor Adebayo Oladeji, Special Assistant (Media & Communications) to his eminence, the CAN President, Rev Samson Olasupo A. Ayokunle, Ph.D