The Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, has the mandate to develop curriculum for basic and senior secondary education levels. The process of curriculum development from high level policy committee on the review of National Curriculum, is made up of eminent Nigerians, stakeholders in education, parents, market women, faith-based organisations, traditional rulers, NGOs, CBOs, National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Nigerian Union of Teachers (NUT), Association of Nigerian Conference of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPS) and International Development Partners and Organised Private Sector. This is to give direction and develop a framework for the type of curriculum that Nigeria needs in the 21st century. So, contrary to a festering rumour, neither the Christian Religious Knowledge nor Islamic Studies was removed from the schools’ curriculum. In fact, at the commencement of the present administration, the Hon. Minister of Education sought and obtained the approval of the National Council on Education to make Christian Religious Knowledge compulsory for all Christian students and Islamic Studies compulsory for their Muslim counterparts.
The claims peddled on social media platforms and a national daily are to say the least speculative, false and unfounded.
It is obvious after perusing these claims, that while some of the peddlers operate from the oblivious side of information, many resort to this out of mischief needless of being extended into the critical sector of education. 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 time-table.
In this 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 had been trained in the six geopolitical zones to be able to teach these distinct subjects.
NERDC stands for integrity and excellence in educational research and development. The management stands for education for human dignity, economic reconstruction and value reorientation. We, therefore, sincerely appeal to politicians and fifth columnists to desist from dragging education into the political melee, capable of destabilising the education sector and mortgaging the future of upcoming generation of Nigerians.
-Professor Ismail Junaidu, Executive Secretary, NERDC
