PFN, FG And Arabic Studies

The controversy generated by the new revised education curriculum for primary and post primary schools across the country reached a fever pitch on Tuesday, when the House of Representatives directed the Federal Ministry of Education to immediately return to the status quo ante.
The Federal Ministry of Education had recently stirred up the hornet’s nest by merging the Islamic Religious Knowledge (IRK) and Christian Religions Knowledge (CRK), which were previously taught as separate subjects in schools, with Civic Education as a subject. The Ministry, in the new school curriculum, also makes either French or Arabic Studies a compulsory subject at primary and secondary school levels.
Christian leaders across the country were the first to cry wolf over the development. Rising from a meeting of Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN) held in Lagos, last week, the Christian leaders directed all Christian students to boycott Arabic Studies classes. According to them, the new curriculum imposed on students was an infringement on freedom of religion, as well as a violation of the secularity of the Nigerian State.
Sharing similar sentiments, the House of Representatives, on Tuesday, unanimously rejected the fusion of CRK and IRK with Civic Education as a subject, describing the merger as a gross violation of Section 10 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, which respects the secular nature of the country and states that religion should be separated from national values.
The House, therefore, mandated the Ministry to make both subjects (CRK and IRK) independent as they had always been, as well as make Civic Education compulsory in primary and post primary schools.
The Tide can not agree less with the positions of both the House of Representatives and PFN. While we do not intend to deny the Federal Ministry of Education its exclusive right to review the nation’s education curriculum, we frown at the fusion of CRK and IRK with Civic Education as a single subject. Such merger, we believe, will not only cause confusion, but will also destroy the fundamentals of the religious beliefs and erode the essence of such religion being taught the children in school.
Beside the fact that it is wrong for students to undertake religion that they are not taught or practising at home, it is also improper for any institution to impose any religious belief or studies on children.
Such imposition, coming on the heels of religious suspicions and separatist tendencies from some sections of the country, will further heighten tension in the country, and ipso facto, divide the nation along ethnic and religious lines.
Without mincing words, The Tide regards the new school curriculum as a call for anarchy and religious war. It will, therefore, be foolhardy and grossly insensitive of any policy maker or government, particularly the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to allow this happen. Citizens, including students, should be at liberty to choose a religion or subject of their choice without let or hindrance.
While we do not know what the nation’s education system formulators intend to achieve by the new curriculum, we also do not want to allude to the views adduced in certain quarters that there is a hidden agenda with the curriculum that makes either French or Arabic Studies compulsory for students, including Christian students. The only way to douse this suspicion is to return to the status-quo ante.
The Tide insists that the imposition of Arabic Studies which goes beyond mere learning Arabic language to studying the history and culture of Arabs and their religion is unacceptable, condemnable and vexatious and must not be allowed to see the light of the day. It is an affront on Christian faith.
We are, however, happy that the House of Representatives has waded into the matter. We hope that the Federal Ministry of Education and indeed the Federal Government will listen to the voice of reason in the interest of national unity and freedom of religion.
If Nigeria must forge ahead like other developing nations, we must learn how to uphold equity, justice and fairness far above sectional or religious interest. The country is already encumbered with enormous challenges and we should not be seen as creating more for ourselves.