Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu, has directed that teaching of Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) and Christian Religious Studies (CRS) in secondary schools should be done as separate subjects.
The instruction, contained in a press statement from the ministry, was aimed at dousing the confusion created by speculation in the social and conventional media that both subjects have been combined.
According to the minister, the two subjects have not been combined, and that is the reason they are still being written as separate subjects by examination bodies such as the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB).
“The minister said there is no compulsion in the study of the two religions, and that secondary school students are at liberty to choose any of the two subjects depending on their religious leanings.
“The confusion was created by a publisher who produced a book on the subject, combining IRS and CRS, which is being used in some private secondary schools.
“For the avoidance of doubt, Christian Religious Studies and Islamic Religious Studies have remained separate subjects in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).”
Adamu, who said that if such a change had occurred (merger of IRS & CRS), the WAEC, NECO and JAMB would have reflected same in their programmes and examinations, therefore advised members of the public to ignore the merchants of false information who take delight in fanning the embers of disunity.