You can't force Islamic Studies on our children - Bishop Oyedepo (Details, pics)

Arising from an emergency meeting in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria on Thursday, the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria, PFN, and the General Overseer, Living Faith, Bishop David Oyedepo have warned the Federal and State Governments against attempt to force Christian students in secondary schools to offer Islamic Studies.

Speaking while addressing newsmen at the PFN Headquarters in Isolo, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, Oyedepo said government had no right to force subjects on anybody, saying that by stopping Christian Religion Studies, CRS, at the Senior Secondary School level, it automatically meant that it would not be embraced at the tertiary institutions.

“You cannot force our students to study Islamic Studies or Arabic Studies,” he said, citing a case in Kwara State where a Christian student was beaten and forced to take Arabic Studies against his will.

Speaking, PFN President, Dr. Felix Omobude said the PFN was concerned at the contention and controversy that had attended the revised Basic Education Curriculum, especially the unnecessary collapse of Christian Religious Studies as part of an omnibus subject known as Religion and National Values.

“We note the explanation by the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) on some of the issues raised. However, the PFN maintains that whatever the case, there is really no need nor is there any justification for the needless confusion and uncertainty the NERDC has created which has opened up the implementation of the matter.