Be pacesetters in educating our children – NACREN tasks Churches

By Samuel Luka, Bauchi

The National Association of Christian Religious Educators of Nigeria (NACREN) has enjoined the church to be a pacesetter in the area giving education, particularly Christian Religious Studies (CRS) to the Christian young ones in the country.

The call came amidst lamentations of lack of adequate teachers for Christian Religious Studies (CRS) in the Nigerian schools.

The National President of NACREN, Rev. Dr. Reuben Maiture made this known during the opening ceremony of its 44th Annual National Conference/Workshop/Seminar and Inter Secondary school Bible Quiz/Recitation Competition at the Baptist Royal Academy, Yandoka road Bauchi on Wednesday.

The National President who said that the church has been described as the salt and light of the world, maintained that the church should be a pacesetter in all remification, in terms of transformation and development.

He said that the church has a duty to educate because it has the divine mission of helping people to enjoy the fullness of life.

The Clergyman maintained that the Church, through the Christian Religious Studies (CRS) has the capability to develop human beings.

Declaring the Conference open, Governor Bala Mohammed of Bauchi, thanked the organizers for holding the event in the state.

According to him, that is an indication that Bauchi is the most peaceful state in the entire Northeast geopolitical zone.

Represented by his Senior Special Assistant on Christian Religion, Hon. Pastor Zakka Luke Magaji, the Governor assured that as soon as the embargo placed on recruitment of Civil servants in the state is lifted, adequate CRS teachers would be recruited.

He said there is high need to coach the children who are leaders of tomorrow about the knowledge of God in order to have a society free of societal ills.

Quoting from the Holy Bible, the representative of the Governor said, without the knowledge of God people will go estray.

“As we are all aware, the book of Hosea chapter 4 verses 6 says, “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge”. “And because thou has rejected God I also have rejected thee”, the Governor’s representative quoted from the Holy Bible.

According to him, “what the society is facing today is as a result of lack of knowledge, because many people are not educated, if they were, they will not take up arms against one another”.

He said as a result of embargo placed on recruitment of Civil servants even before the coming Governor Bala Mohammed led administration, the state government has not recruited civil servants.

“There was an issue raised regarding CRS teachers by the CAN Chairman. But I want to assure you that, it’s not that this present administration has neglected the recruitment of CRS teachers, it’s a general challenge that we are facing in the state due to the embargo on recruitment of Civil servants”, he said.

The SSA who said that since inception, the present administration met a deteriorating situation regarding salary structure in the state, pointed out that Governor Bala Mohammed has been battling to correct it to enable him fill in the vacuum existing in the civil service.

“His Excellency is aware, and I can assure you that once this embargo is lifted, there will be mass recruitment of CRS teachers. And I assure you that you will testify. His Excellency will make us proud”, he said.

Governor Bala urged Nigerians to continue to pray for the country to overcome the myriads of challenges bedeviling it.

With the theme; Christian Religious Studies and the Challenges of Primary and Secondary Education in Nigeria: Going forward, the Conference attracted participants from across the country.