The Chairman of Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, South South zone, who is equally the Chairman of the Niger Delta forum, Archbishop Goddowell Avwomakpa has decried the recent move by the Federal Ministry of Education via the Nigerian Educational Research Development Council, NERDC, to merge Christian Religious Studies, CRK with Islamic Studies, Civic Education, Social Studies and a newly introduced subject called National Security Education into one compulsory subject.
Archbishop Goddowell Avwomakpa, Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), South South Zone
Archbishop Avwomakpa while speaking with journalists decried the decision of the ministry and described the new curriculum as a subtle way by a religious group to indoctrinate children with Islamic beliefs and strange religious tenets which Christian do not subscribe to. A development which Avwomakpa says is another strategic systemic but wicked attempt to attack the foundation of the Christian faith.
Besides, Avwomakpa noted that it is an infringement on the human rights of Christian children for them to be forced to memorise and recite the Qur’an/Arabic language under any guise in a secular society.
The renowned cleric also noted that to bring five critical subjects into one compulsory subject for a nine years child negates human rights provisions on human and peoples’ rights as well as negates the constitution of the federal Republic of Nigeria and the Child Right Act of 2003.
According to the renowned Archbishop, in the civilised world, curriculum development is ordinarily meant to holistically enrich curriculum quality by taking into consideration new innovations and emerging issues that need to be fused into the subject in question and not to use the curriculum to change the philosophy or ideology of the child to becoming terror to the society.
The CAN chairman wondered why five subjects should be merged into one compulsory subject and asked; which teacher will teach the five subjects competently and efficiently? He says the plan is an attempt to sacrifice excellence at the altar of mediocrity, religious integration and thus opined that the plan will cause more problems in Nigeria than Boko Haram, agitation for self actualisation and militancy have caused the country.
Consequently, Avwomakpa called on the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo and the National Assembly to quickly direct the Minister of Education to suspend the curriculum more so when no public hearing was held before the decision to force children to learn what they do not believe in.
According to Archbishop Avwomakpa ” Christian beliefs and those of lslam differs so there is no way that you can bring two parallel line together not when the foundation of the Christian faith is threatened by the curriculum which is meant to promote Islam and gradually indicate our children with lslamic and jihadist ideological way of thinking. A development he says portends great danger for the nation.
Signed
Ovie Edomi
Special Adviser on media to Archbishop Avwomakpa