Islamic organisation demands religious studies be made compulsory in schools

Organisation says religious studies would check moral decadence

The National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations, NACOMYO, at the weekend urged the Federal Government to make religious studies a core subject in the school system, pointing out that it would address moral decadence in the society.

The body stated this in a communique issued by its National President, Kamal’ddin Akintunde, and its National Secretary-General, Binyamin Yusuf, at the end of its five-day education submit held at Federal College of Education, FCE, Osiele, Abeokuta, Osun State.

Delegates to the summit were drawn from all over the country.

After extensive deliberations, the organisation observed and resolved on a number of national issues.

The body stated that the Federal Government should have a rethink on some policies that could undermine religious education in the country – most importantly, the new curriculum which sought to make replacements for Islamic Religious Studies and Christian Religion Studies with a new subject called Religion and National Values.

“We believe this is not good for our educational system, most especially at this most challenging period,” the council resolved.

The council also asked that Vocational and Technical Education be re-positioned- with special emphasis on practical agriculture and ICT in the school’s system – to check the unemployment among Nigerian youths.

It condemned ethnic attacks, kidnapping and terrorist activities occurring in various parts of the country and asked that government provide adequate security for the people.

The council also stated that it appreciated the ongoing dialogue between the Federal Government and the academic staff unions of the country’s higher education institutions and urged all parties to be faithful in finding an urgent amicable resolution to the impasse in the best interest of the nation.