In a protest letter to the Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, the PTA expressed concern that the “literature textbooks fall short of moral standards that our nation’s educational system should be promoting.”
“More specifically, the books are nothing but a means of glamorising acts of indecency such as rape, violence, kidnapping, girl defilement and sexualisation of knowledge. The books expose the vulnerable and unsuspecting minds of 10-12 year olds to amorous and deviant practices that can in turn breed rapists, cultists, homosexuals and kidnappers in youngsters. The prevalence of cases of rape among secondary students in recent times cannot be unconnected with the urge to experiment with the experience they have from such books,” the letter signed by Mrs. Fatima Mahmud-Oyekan, Head of Crescent Schools, and Alhaji Aliyu Gudaji, Chairman, Parent-Teacher Association.
The school also accused the Joint Admissions and Matriculations Board (JAMB) of having succumbed to the same immoral standard “as observable from the blameable content of its recommended Use of English text for the 2017 UTME, In Dependence.”
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The school gave examples of The Precious Child, by Queen O. Okweshine, ‘The Tears of a Bride’ by Oyekunle Oyedeji, as books unfit for young minds.
OUR REQUESTS
They, therefore, requested as follows:
1. There should be objective content analysis of books meant for learners’ consumption, before they are certified fit for school use by the appropriate organ of the ministry.
2. We request that such books (even as they affect other subjects) are withdrawn from use immediately considering the extent of their incalculable potential damage to the youths now and in future.
3. To forestall a recurrence, we demand that the process that led to the adoption of the books is investigated and whosoever is found culpable is sanctioned appropriately.
4. We implore the Ministry of Education to do everything possible within its powers to put a stop to the use of such books immediately.
5. We implore the Ministry to recommend, henceforth, books that teach values such as honesty, integrity, decency, hard work and selflessness, which seek to promote humanity in our youngsters, in the interest of our nation.
In conclusion, we are hopeful that our concerns on the textbooks and some perverted aspects of the curricula would be given a listening ear. As a parent and a role model, we eagerly look forward to your urgent decision and action in addressing these worries. Thank you in anticipation of your favourable response.