Education Minister, Malam Adamu Adamu, has directed that the teaching of Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) and Christian Religious Studies (CRK) in secondary schools must be done as separate subjects.

The minister, in a release made available to journalists in Abuja, said: “The directive has become necessary following weeks of speculations in the social and conventional media networks across the country that the two subjects have been merged into one.”

Adamu explained that 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.

According to the Minister, the confusion was created by a publisher who produced a book on the subject, combining Islamic Religious Studies (IRS) and Christian Religious Studies (CRK), which is being used in some private secondary schools.

For the avoidance of doubt, the minister said, Christian Religious Studies and Islamic Religious Studies have remained separate subjects in the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) and the National Examinations Council (NECO).

According to the Minister, if such a change had occurred (merger of IRS & CRS), the West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO) and the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) would have reflected same in their programmes and examinations.

The minister therefore advised members of the public to ignore the merchants of false information who take delight in fanning the embers of disunity.