I want to make a personal contribution to the issue of "The Manipulated New Education Curriculum". It is sad that Government functionaries forget that the positions they hold are temporary. Most times they are either manipulated by someone for their selfish interest or they themselves are opportunists waiting to get to a position and implement their long term ill motivated plans.

I have read between the denials of the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, NERDC, Professor Ismail Junaidu, saying “The Basic Education Curriculum which includes the CRK and IRK Curricula was approved in 2013 by the National Council on Education. He stated “For the avoidance of doubt, the last review of the curriculum was approved in 2013 and implementation commenced in September, 2014 and neither CRK nor IRK was removed from the curriculum...'and the one  by the Federal Government, Minister of Education, Mallam Adamu Adamu, saying there was no truth in the allegation. Christian Religious Knowledge was not removed from curriculum — Education Minister According to him, the leadership of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, was deceived to believing that CRK has been removed from the curriculum'

Let us be factual these two sensitive positions should not be held by two people from the same religion! Because the best that could happen is to just follow the 'books'. Nobody can feel your pain for you. It is sad that the Minister can just with a statement waive away an organization like CAN as a bunch of ignoramus. They are not! They are the apex organization and custodian of the Christian faith in Nigeria. The Minister of Education should apologize for such a derogatory sweeping statement. More so when sensitive issues like this are raised government agencies approach should not be outright denial, but a cautious approach that assures the issues raised will be addressed .

Why I Believe There Are Sinister Moves.

In 2014, I wrote a book that I wanted to introduce to the Education sector to create awareness about the effects of corruption and suggest ways by which it could be curbed in the country. December 2015, I was with a publisher in Ibadan to republish the book in Nigeria so that cost wise the youth could have access to it and it could also be affordable. The publisher told me that the process of introducing books that are not inline with the existing School Curriculum is tedious and takes a long period. That my best bet was to look at the School Curriculum and write on a topic that I consider helpful to the country. I took the Curriculum and wrote on 'God The Creator and Creation' I then sent the manuscript of the book to the publisher April 2016 and he told me that the Education Curriculum has changed and such books are no more welcome as CRK is no more taught in the secondary school! That was the end of that project.

The main focus of this discussion is not whether CRK is included or not in the Education Curriculum of Nigeria, the main issue is the manipulation of the Education Curriculum to favor a particular religion namely the Islamic religion and this is the issue that CAN and the entire Christian body is saying is wrong. When the NEDRC Executive Secretary says it was “approved” the question is who approved it and what is approved? To what purpose was it approved? If the dominant players in the approval decision making body is tilted, how will it not hurt the other? If such a sensitive matter was approved without CAN and the legislature, how can you expect it not to generate public opprobrium that is why people are crying out now.

The main issue that the Christian body is concerned about is the inclusion of clauses in this new Education Curriculum that are the offensive to the Christian body. Below I suggest some steps that can be taken to address these concerns.

1.      1.The entire Education Curriculum should be revisited with a new set of stakeholders in the Nigerian Education system.

2.      2.CAN in particular as the umbrella organization for all Christian in Nigeria should be involved,it should be an inclusive process.

3.      3. What CAN and other Christian leaders and educators have identified as offensive to the Christian faith and capable of affecting the          upbringing of the Christian children should be expunged totally from the Curriculum.

4.      4. This country is a secular nation, efforts should be geared towards that understanding in taking such critical decisions on the Education of our children either now or in the future.

5.      5. Any attempt to indicate one religion is preferred above another is a call to destabilization of this country and should be avoided.

6.  6.Governments should be sensitive to who holds the position of NEDRC, Minister of Education and similar agencies in the future. Specifically, there should be a balance of ‘faiths’ , because our nation's is a multi-faith nation and should not be treated as a mono- faith nation.

7.      7.Sensitive issues on Education or matters of similar nature that have propensity to affect our collective future should not be shrouded in secrecy, there should be transparency and accountability.

8.      8. CRK should not just be maintained in the Education System the quality of the content should be that of sound biblical faith.

9.  9. Teachers should be made available to teach CRK in all schools so that the students will not forced to choose subjects they are not comfortable with.

It is important that this matter is dealt with in a timely manner as delay will continue to cause divisions that can easily be avoided.

Dr Amos Dada is the District Superintendent of Christ Apostolic Church Bethel Canada. Convener of International Gathering of Eagles Conference and President, Canadian Institute of Leadership and Development. Www.igoeministry.com; .www.canadaleadership.com and www.cacbethel.com.