Lagos May Allow Religious Studies In Primary Schools

Lagos State Government says it is considering lifting the ban placed on religious studies in primary schools in the state.
Governor Babatunde Fashola said this on Monday during a courtesy visit by members of the Anglican Communion, Diocese of Lagos West, led by the outgoing Bishop Rt. Rev. Peter Adebiyi.
Fashola said it was becoming increasingly difficult to separate religion from daily activities because religions preach peace.
The governor said this in response to the call by Adebiyi to lift the ban on religious activities in the state public schools, especially primary schools.
He said, “I assure you that we will do something on the ban placed on religious studies in our public schools. I could not agree more with the suggestion that such will improve the moral content of learning. We have also raised this at our weekly Executive meeting today that the most intelligent person has no learning if he or she has no compassion and fear for God.
“We all must serve God. And I think that it is incumbent on us to retrace our steps if we have veered off that path or to reinforce it if we haven’t. I assure you that we will do something on it.”
On security, the governor said that the country would get better if everybody contributed their own quota to ensuring safety.
Fashola said, “Citizens must be self protective and vigilant. And they must share information with the security agencies. Crime detection and prevention is not divination. It is knowledge. So if citizens distance themselves from the security agencies, they have distanced themselves from their security.”
Earlier, Adebiyi who is due to retire from his office on April 27, 2013 said it was incumbent on religion to teach children to know God.
He said, “Children must learn to know God. When they learn this, they will know that it is not good to commit crime and other vices. These were what our teachers inculcated in us when we were in school.
“I think that the government should let us return to the primary schools for thorough religious studies so that we can rebuild our fallen standard of life.”