By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
The Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) has rejected the proposed national council of Christian Education Bill saying it is inconsistent with the provision of Nigeria’s Constitution.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Most Reverend Henry Ndukuba, Archbishop, Metropolitan and Primate of church of Nigeria.
He said ” The church of Nigeria has reviewed the national council of education Bill and wishes to express its strong and unreserved opposition to the content of the Bill that seek to regulate and monitor the implementation and development of Christian Education in Nigeria.
The Bill is purported to introduce mandatory clarification of the content of Christian Religion Education, Including Christian Education syllabuses and curricula.
Speaking further,he said the bill also seeks to approve and monitor how Christian religious education is taught in all schools and also accredit the programmes of Christian theological institutions and seminaries, and certify Christian Religion Education instructors.
The church of Nigeria notes that the purported Bill is retroactive and existing churches owned seminaries and religious faith based institutions are not exempted.
We therefore recommend a conclusive forum to discuss the issues of concern relating to regulation of standards pertaining to Christian education, without interference with the freedom to teach and to learn in accordance with long established educational curricula of well established Churches.