Do you remember when teachers in primary school used to separate pupils during religious lessons popularly known as IRs.
It was a normal exercise as most of our schools consist of Muslims and Christians, with other religions having a very small percentage.
Scholars have now associated the exercise with radicalisation, an issue that has become a big problem among our youth.
The scholars say letting students study their respective religions in separate rooms brings out a perspective that Kenyans are different.
Dr Twawe Chidongo, a lecture at Pwani University who raised the issue during a Forum in Mombasa, said in for us to curb radicalisation in Kenya, there is need to deal with the issue from the grass root level.
“We raise our children for them to build our nation in the future, but this issue of separating them in school with the name of teaching religious lessons makes them think that Kenyans are not the same,” he said.
He urged the Ministry of Education to introduce a lesson that will neutralise all religions with the aim of promoting peace and unity, by teaching students how to follow and respect God according to their respective faiths.
Dr Munga, who is a Philosophy lecturer, said youth who are accused of being radical in Kenya are really affected by the accusations, which cause them to attack their colleges from different religions.
On his part, Prof Kimani Njogu called for the scrapping off of religious subjects.
“The subjects should be removed. I think our children can be taught about religion in churches and Mosques. Schools should be a place to promote unity,” he said.