The federal government on Thursday doused the tension over the placement of Christian Religious Knowledge (CRK) and Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) in the current school curriculum.
It directed the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) to separate the subjects.
The Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, gave the directive when he met with some stakeholders in the education sector including Commissioners for Education in the states of the federation.
The minister who was represented by the Minister of State for Education, Anthony Anwukah, said the step became necessary in view of the controversy the placement of the two subjects had generated.
It would be recalled that Christians in the country had described the placement of CRK in the school curriculum as a plot to Islamise the country.
Said the minister: “There were complaints by parents that children were overloaded with so many subjects and the recommendation then was to merge one or two subjects.
“Unfortunately, water and oil were merged together and it is not working.
“So, to save ourselves the agony, the two subjects should be separated. We push that to the NERDC.”
The minister who stressed that government would ensure good quality education in the country called on all stakeholders to assist.
“We recognise that the task of revamping the education sector is challenging, the ministry of education cannot do it alone. Our task is to coordinate national efforts to meet our national goals and objectives.
“It is our belief that with good planning, appropriate investment of resources, transparency, due process, effective collaboration and coordination of inputs and activities of government and that of all stakeholders, we will realise our vision of providing quality education to build and sustain adequate human capital for national development,” he said.
