Parents, proprietors rise against book with controversial

Some foreign kindergarten books, novels and instructional
materials available online are the latest source of concern
for parents and educationists. The educational resources,
which are said to have homosexual undertones, are
generating debates of morality and cultural acceptance.
Educationists, who spoke with our correspondent on
Thursday, expressed fears that such instructional materials
might soon be part of the curricula in some elitist schools in
the country.
Findings by our correspondent revealed that the
“offensive” materials were targeted at preschoolers and
pupils in both the junior and senior secondary school
grades.
Some of the books include When Kayla was Kyle, It’s Okay
to be Different, Mommy, Momma and Me, Who is in a
Family?, among others. Others meant for older pupils
include Conversations with God by Neale D. Walsch, Tango
Makes Three by Justin Richard, as well as Heather has Two
Mummies and A Tale of Two Daddies, both by Lesley
Newman.
Our correspondent, who checked out Conversations with God
online, found out that the author tried to answer questions
from children, while posing as the voice of God.
When a girl asked, “Why am I a lesbian?” Neale, answering
the question, said it was because she was born that way,
urging her to celebrate her differences.
Speaking with our correspondent on Thursday, the
principal, Preserved Generation Schools, Amuwo-Odofin,
Lagos, Mrs. Chioma Akin-Adekeye, said some of the books
were being promoted by some popular international
organisations.
According to Akin-Adekeye, the themes of the books are
not compatible with African culture, urging stakeholders to
act fast before the materials arrive in the country.
The educationist also noted that colouring worksheets and
drawing books from some foreign authors also have
homosexual underpinnings.
“These worksheets are on the Internet, from where 60 per
cent of schools in Nigeria take them. School heads must
supervise worksheets before they are sent home.
“Parents must make time to check children’s homework and
the sites they surf for materials. Religious bodies must also
be involved. Nigeria must say no to the adoption of the
Comprehensive Sexuality Education curriculum that an
international organisation is trying to force down the
throat of countries in the world,” she said.
Speaking on the issue, the President, National Parent-
Teacher Association of Nigeria, Mr. Haruna Danjuma, said
the practice of homosexuality was not consistent with the
cultural and religious dispositions of most Nigerians.
Danjuma, who said private schools were culpable, urged the
Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council,
the agency in charge of formulating and implementing
policy on books and curriculum, to look into the issue.
He added, “According to our findings, only private schools
have the tendency of bringing such books into the country.
If the books are already in the country, I am sure they did
not pass through NERDC.
“Besides the fact that such books are against everything
our country stands for, we at NAPTAN have always
wondered why some private schools do not consider the
Nigerian curricula good enough.
“Why is it that these schools cannot use Nigerian curricula?
We have discussed this issue with the Ministry of Education
repeatedly. For instance, these foreign books are not in the
Nigerian curriculum. It was approved in a country and some
of our schools have adopted their curricula. We have
decided to table the mater again at our next national
council meeting in Abuja.”
Danjuma also said that parents should pay attention to
what their children watch on television and the Internet.
He added that they should be aware of the music they
listen to and the books they read.
Attempts to reach the Executive Secretary, NERDC, Prof.
Ismail Junaidu, as well as Theresa Oresanya, the Head of
Public Affairs, on Wednesday were not successful as their
lines were switched off.
Meanwhile, proprietors in Lagos State have urged the state
government to check the influx of certain learning
materials with the potentials of promoting homosexuality
among pupils.
However, the Director General, Lagos State Office of Quality
Assurance, Mrs. Ronke Soyombo, has assured that no such
books would be in use in schools in the state.
Soyombo spoke recently at a stakeholders meeting with
private school proprietors in the state.
According to her, the Nigerian curriculum is not inferior to
any other one and should not be allowed to play second
fiddle.
“I agree that such books are against our culture and I
would like to say that they will not find a place in Lagos
State,” she said.